Russian Aerospace Industry

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Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) has granted the Yakovlev aircraft manufacturing company an expanded Production Organization Approval (FAVT-I-11), authorizing serial production of the MC-21 passenger jet. This follows an on-site inspection verifying Yakovlev’s compliance with federal aviation regulations, including quality assurance and flight safety management systems. The approval adds the MC-21 to Yakovlev’s "List of Authorized Works," which already includes the SSJ-100, along with key components like an integrated firewall, computing system, and multifunctional displays.Global Certification EquivalentsThe FAVT-I-11 certification aligns with international standards:FAA (U.S.)—Equivalent to Production Organization Approval (POA) under FAR Part 21, ensuring compliance with airworthiness standards.EASA (Europe)—Similar to POA under EC Regulation 748/2012, confirming production meets EU aviation safety requirements.This certification underscores Yakovlev’s adherence to globally recognized manufacturing standards, a crucial step for future export potential and type certification in foreign markets.Key Certifications & DevelopmentsType Certification: On December 28, 2021, the MC-21-300 received Rosaviatsiya's type certificate, confirming its compliance with Russian civil aviation standards.Major Change Approval (2023)—Permitted an increase in passenger capacity from 175 to 211, enhancing market competitiveness.PD-14 Engine Transition—Certification flights for Russian-made PD-14 engines are set for 2025, reducing reliance on foreign technology due to sanctions.Government & Industry CommitmentsPrime Minister Mikhail Mishustin highlighted the SJ-100’s first flight with Russian engines as a milestone, stressing the need for accelerated production without compromising safety.Minister of Industry & Trade Anton Alikhanov confirmed MC-21 (PD-14) and SJ-100 (PD-8) will enter service in H1 2025, with certification flights underway.Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov stated serial MC-21 production begins in 2026, with Aeroflot’s Rossiya Airlines expected to receive the first units.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8aqD2EONJw

 

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Kamikaze drones "KUB-2E" and "KUB-10E" presented by the Kalashnikov Concern at the IDEX 2025 exhibition in the UAE.

The loitering munition "KUB-2" in the middle class with a mass of more than 10 kg is an analogue of the well-known "Lancet". Videos of its tests during the SVO have already appeared

The heavier "KUB-10" already weighs about 45 kg with a warhead mass of about 11 kg and is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 40 km in a guided version and up to 90 km when launched at specified coordinates.

Беспилотники в РФ

Росавиация выдала сертификат типа на агродрон ИД-100A https://favt.gov.ru/novosti-novosti/?id=13282

aviaforum.ru

 

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View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scdjg9_j5GM

 

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Russian Aerospace Forces Receive First Batch of Su-35S Fighters in 2025


March 30th, 23:31
On March 29, 2025, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec State Corporation) announced that it had delivered the first batch of new Su-35S multirole fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces this year. The fighters underwent a full cycle of factory tests, were accepted by technical personnel and tested in various operating modes by pilots of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The aircraft flew to their home airfield.



One of the new Su-35S fighters delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces in March 2025, built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Yu.A. Gagarin (KnAAZ) PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (c) PJSC United Aircraft Corporation



"Our aircraft manufacturers are conscientiously fulfilling their obligations to supply new aircraft to the troops. We have delivered the first serial fighters this year. Today, new batches of aircraft systems are in varying degrees of readiness at the enterprises, which will be delivered within the framework of the state defense order this year. Pilots highly appreciate the characteristics of the Su-35S. The fighters are equipped with advanced weapons and long-range information and targeting systems. The aircraft is designed to gain air superiority, destroy ground and surface targets during the day and at night in simple and difficult weather conditions. At the same time, the machine is capable of operating at large distances from the airfield," said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy Director General of the Rostec State Corporation.

"Our primary task is to increase the pace of construction of in-demand military products. First of all, this concerns the Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57 aircraft. For each of these types, an increase in production volumes is planned for the current year. In order to ensure the creation of this equipment, we will continue to expand production," said UAC CEO Vadim Badekha.

The dynamics of production capacity utilization poses the manufacturer with the issue of upgrading the skills of existing employees and attracting new personnel in key blue-collar and engineering specialties. Commissioning of key technical re-equipment facilities to eliminate bottlenecks in the production cycle will allow further increasing the pace of production.

On the part of bmpd, we would like to point out that, thus, the Russian Aerospace Forces received the first batch of Su-35S fighters in 2025, manufactured by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Yuri Gagarin (KnAAZ) of the UAC. As usual, the number of aircraft delivered is not disclosed in UAC reports starting in 2022, and the tail numbers of the fighters are retouched in the official photos and videos distributed.

Earlier in 2024, KnAAZ delivered four batches of Su-35S fighters to the Russian Ministry of Defense, with a total estimated number of 15 aircraft. Presumably, the Su-35S fighters now delivered were manufactured under the additional (fifth) contract concluded by UAC for the delivery of Su-35S aircraft to the Russian Ministry of Defense. In total, taking into account previous contracts, the Russian Aerospace Forces received an estimated 135 serial Su-35S fighters from 2012 to the end of 2024.

ВКС России получили первую в 2025 году партию истребителей Су-35С

ПАО Объединенная авиастроительная корпорация (ОАК, входит в Госкорпорацию Ростех) 29 марта 2025 года сообщило, что передало ВКС Российской Федерации первую в этом году партию новых многофункциональных истребителей Су-35С. Истребители прошли полный цикл заводских испытаний, были…

bmpd.livejournal.com

Aircraft from the batch of new Su-35S fighters delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces in March 2025, built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Yuri Gagarin (KnAAZ) of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (c) PJSC United Aircraft Corporation

 

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Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia and former Soviet states faced a rapid decline in the production of piston aircraft engines. The M-14 engine, a Soviet-era workhorse developed by Ukraine’s Ivchenko Design Bureau and produced by Russia’s Voronezh Mechanical Plant, saw its manufacturing grind to a halt by the mid-1990s. Modified versions like the M-14P and M-14X emerged but failed to meet modern aviation demands. This left light Russian aircraft and UAV manufacturers heavily reliant on foreign engines, particularly Austria’s Rotax (owned by Canada’s Bombardier), which dominated the market due to their reliability and fuel efficiency.By the 2010s, up to 90% of Russia’s light aircraft and UAVs relied on imported engines, with Rotax alone accounting for half of them. The Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone, a game-changer in modern warfare, also used Rotax engines—until Canada cut off supplies due to their use in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This dependency exposed a critical vulnerability for Russia, especially as geopolitical tensions escalated.In 2013, Russia launched a state-backed initiative to revive domestic engine production. The Agat plant in Yaroslavl, traditionally a supplier of aircraft components, was tasked with developing new piston aircraft engines (PAEs). By 2015, they unveiled two engines at the MAKS airshowD-1400 ("Agat-B1") – A high-power model targeting Rotax’s market share.APD-110/120 ("Agat-B") – A horizontally opposed-cylinder engine (similar to Ural motorcycle engines) designed for UAVs and light aircraft.These engines were fully Russian-made, avoiding foreign components, and featured innovations like turbocharging, liquid/air hybrid cooling, and distributed fuel injection. The APD-110/120V (latest variant) was positioned as a Rotax 914 replacement, with 140 hp and the ability to operate in extreme temperatures (-50°C to +50°C).Beyond Agat, Russia established a new design bureau at Samara State University to focus on compact gas turbine and piston engines (150–300 kgf thrust). The goal was to create a unified gas generator that could power multiple aircraft types, improving efficiency over existing models like the PD-14.Western sanctions forced Russia to accelerate import substitution:The Orion UAV, initially using the Rotax 914, switched to the APD-110/120.The Forpost drone (originally Israeli-designed with Australian Jabiru 2200 engines) was completely Russified.The Orlan-10, however, still runs on a Japanese Saito engine, while the Korsar UAV (initially Italian-powered) awaits a Russian replacement.Despite progress, Russia still depends on foreign engines for critical military drones:Chinese Limbach L-550E engines power the Garpiya-A1 attack drone (over 2,500 produced since 2023).Iranian Shahed drones (rebranded as Geran) use simplified engines to boost production, while the Shahed-238 introduces a turbofan variant for higher speeds.The Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) developed a universal electric motor for drones, achieving 12–16 kW power with mostly Russian components. While promising, it still lags behind Chinese competitors in cost and scalability.#rotax #UAVEngine #RussianUAV


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgBFXEKgUr4

APD aircraft engines – Russian “Rotax substitutes”​

After 1991, there were no enterprises left in the post-Soviet space that were engaged in the production of piston aircraft engines for UAVs, light aircraft, aircraft, motor gliders. Large industrial organizations considered this a burden for themselves. True, there was an M-14 engine, produced by the Voronezh Mechanical Plant. However, since 1994, the production of the unit has actually ceased. Although then for several years its modifications M-14P, M-14X, as well as an improved version M9F were individually produced.


Already in 2015, at the MAKS exhibition, the company presented its new developments - a pair of gasoline piston engines for light aircraft and UAVs. We are talking about the PD-1400 (“Agat-B1”) and APD-110/120 (“Agat-B”) units, designed to eliminate the “dominance” of Rotaxes on the Russian market. NAMI and the GRAT Scientific Center took part in the creation of the engines.

The aircraft engines presented by the plant are not some kind of licensed copy, but completely Russian products, in which there are no imported components. It is curious: the engines are opposite, i.e. the cylinders are located horizontally and the pistons move towards each other, as in a motorcycle "Ural" or "Subaru" cars.

Engine "Agat-B" (APD-110/120)​

It is distinguished by a mixed cooling system: for the cylinder head it is liquid, for the cylinder jackets it is air. The engine with distributed injection is equipped with a compressor with a turbine and a built-in gearbox. The lubrication system has an external reservoir and a “dry” sump. Technical characteristics of the latest modification - four-cylinder model APD-110/120V:

volume - 1,76 l
take-off power (long-term) – 140 (130) “horses”
fuel consumption – 280 g/l. s.*h
length, width, height - 69,9, 69,1 and 71,3 cm
weight – 105 kg without technical fluids

AI-95 “Premium” gasoline is required as fuel. The motor is designed for operation in the temperature range from -50° to +50°. The Rybinsk Scientific Center “Itlan” took part in the development of the engine: “Agat” was engaged in the production of parts.

https://en.bibimot.ru/9080-aviad