Yep! Which means it doesn’t even have to be better to win orders. It just has to be vaguely sufficient. Which is legitimately a tall order. But!

Let’s also remember there’s a government entirely willing to subsidize the growth of a native product. Russia already has an 80 year history of taking wildly diverse and frankly oddball aircraft designs and turning them into things that actually fly. Anyone who thinks that them partnering with a Chinese company can’t build a widebody isn’t paying attention. Who knows if it’ll be any good, it may not be competitive. But will they be able to make something that flies?

I’d happily bet on it.