Russian Aerospace Industry


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58v7cNV_E5Y
Anatoly Gaidansky, Deputy General Director and Head of the Engineering Center at PJSC "Yakovlev", shares insights into the near and distant future of aviation. We discuss the upcoming test flights of the MS-21 aircraft and the long-term development of composite aircraft manufacturing. A visionary conversation on the future of aerospace engineering.
 
Flight tests of the MS-21 aircraft in an import-substituted version have begun


April 30th, 23:50
As reported on April 29, 2025 by PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a prototype of the medium-range MS-21 aircraft, equipped with new Russian systems and units, took off for the first time from the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant of the Yakovlev Company (part of the UAC of the Rostec State Corporation). Domestic avionics, power supply systems, air conditioning and others were tested on board. The flight marked the beginning of factory development tests.

On the part of bmpd, we would like to point out that the first flight prototype of the MS-21-310 passenger aircraft (serial number 21012/MS.0012, registration number 73055) with Russian PD-14 engines, previously built at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAZ) and which made its first flight there in its original configuration on December 15, 2020 (and was the fifth MS-21 built overall), thus made its first flight in the new "import-substituted" guise of the MS-21-310RUS. Since 2023, the aircraft has been undergoing re-equipment at IAZ under the MS-21-310RUS program with the replacement of some imported systems with Russian-made systems.



The first flight in the new "import-substituted" version of the MS-21-310RUS after the modernization of the first flight prototype of the MS-21-310 passenger aircraft (serial number 21012/MS.0012, registration number 73055). Irkutsk, 04/29/2025 (c) PJSC United Aircraft Corporation( Collapse )The UAC press release states:The flight was performed by a crew consisting of test pilots Alexander Guskov, Hero of Russia Roman Taskaev and leading flight test engineers Alexander Popov and Alexander Solovyov. The aircraft was in the air for 1 hour and 15 minutes, reaching a speed of 580 km/h and an altitude of 3000 m.Alexander Guskov stated that the flight mission was fully completed. Roman Taskaev added that all the aircraft systems, including new domestic ones, worked without any problems.“The MS-21 is designed to replace Boeings and Airbuses in the skies of Russia. This is an advanced aircraft in terms of its characteristics, very modern and comfortable, with outstanding aerodynamics and new generation systems on board. In combination with PD-14 engines, this ensures low operating costs and good economics for airlines. Our aircraft manufacturers have done a great job, replacing about 80 foreign systems and units in order not to depend on sanctions and suppliers from other countries. Today's flight brings us one step closer to certification and the start of deliveries to the market of the import-substituted MS-21,” said Oleg Yevtushenko, Executive Director of the Rostec State Corporation.Two modified experimental MS-21 aircraft, which were previously involved in certification tests with foreign systems, will take part in flight tests under the import substitution program.The first of them, which flew on April 29, 2025, had some of the foreign systems replaced. The aircraft received a Russian set of onboard radio-electronic equipment, including computers, switches, navigation systems and radio communication equipment, a domestic auxiliary power unit, air conditioning and pressure control systems, lighting equipment, and aircraft system consoles. Domestic components are included in the power supply system, hydraulic system, and chassis.“This flight opens the factory development tests of the MS-21 in a new, Russian appearance. Our plans include a flight to Zhukovsky to perform flights under the certification test program. In parallel, we continue to work on the fully Russian MS-21, which is now in the final assembly shop and will join the flights later,” said UAC CEO Vadim Badekha.The MS-21 is a new generation medium-range passenger aircraft. The airliner, created on the basis of the latest developments, is focused on the most popular segment of the passenger transportation market. Advanced aerodynamics, PD-14 engines and the latest generation systems provide high flight performance and reduced operating costs compared to analogues. PD-14 is the first new-generation aircraft turbofan engine created in modern Russia. When working on PD-14, designers of the United Engine Corporation Rostec introduced 16 critical technologies: new materials, coatings and design solutions were created. The engine was certified in 2018.
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First flight of the prototype of the fully import-substituted SJ-100 aircraft

April 23rd, 23:35

As reported by PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of the Rostec State Corporation), on April 22, 2025, in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the first flight of the prototype of the fully import-substituted modified regional passenger aircraft SJ-100 (SSJ100) Superjet️ took place under the SSJ-NEW program - the prototype aircraft OP-3 (003) with factory number 97003 and registration number 97023. The aircraft was built by the Production Center of PJSC Yakovlev UAC in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and is equipped with Russian PD-8 engines.

The first flight of the prototype of the fully import-substituted modified regional passenger aircraft SJ-100 (SSJ100) Superjet️ under the SSJ-NEW program (experimental aircraft OP-3 (003) with factory number 97003 and registration number 97023). Komsomolsk-on-Amur, 04/22/2025 (c) PJSC United Aircraft Corporation

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According to the UAC press release, the stable operation of all domestic systems was confirmed during the tests. The aircraft took to the skies on Russian PD-8 engines developed by the United Engine Corporation of Rostec. The machine demonstrated good controllability and stability in the air.

“The import substitution program for the Superjet aircraft has entered the home stretch. The cooperation of Rostec enterprises has done a great job. About 40 imported systems and units were replaced on the airliner, including the most important component - engines. Today, the third prototype made its first flight. It is used to test the interaction of the PD-8 power plants with domestic onboard systems. Connecting a third aircraft to flight tests will speed up the certification program. Now we are on schedule," said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy Director General of Rostec State Corporation.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, the Superjet was decorated with the logo of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The aircraft was piloted by a crew consisting of commander, Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation Sergei Zavalkin, second pilot, 1st class test pilot Alexander Verkhov, and lead flight test engineer - flight operator Maxim Grukanov. The flight duration was about 40 minutes, it took place at altitudes of up to 3,000 meters and speeds of up to 500 km / h.

After landing, the crew commander Sergey Zavalkin reported on the successful completion of the flight mission. During the first flight, takeoff and an altitude gain of 3,000 meters were performed in the takeoff mode of the engines. In the sky, the control systems, hydraulics, air conditioning, as well as the flight and navigation equipment were checked in the range of speeds from the minimum to the maximum for this flight. In addition, the gas-dynamic stability of the PD-8 engines was checked. The landing gear was retracted and released in flight.

“Today we witnessed a historic event - the first flight of a completely Russian Superjet aircraft. I am confident that this will be an important step towards strengthening the technological independence of our country and will make a significant contribution to the development of domestic aircraft manufacturing. The import-substituted version of the aircraft is being created in an extremely short time frame. We plan to complete certification tests by the end of this year in order to begin deliveries to airlines in 2026,” said UAC CEO Vadim Badekha.

Three aircraft are participating in flight tests in order to speed up the certification program. Last year, tests of the first prototype of the Superjet began, equipped with Russian-made systems and units and Franco-Russian SaM146 engines. In March of this year, the second prototype with domestic PD-8 engines and partially imported systems joined the flight test program. Now, a third, fully Russian aircraft with serial number 97003 has been connected to the flight program.

The Superjet is a short-haul narrow-body aircraft. As part of the import substitution work, the machine is equipped with Russian engines, avionics, chassis, auxiliary power unit, control systems, power supply, air conditioning, fire protection and others. The aircraft also received a new fuselage, which has been modified to simplify the production and maintenance of the aircraft.
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The PD-8 bypass turbofan engine with a thrust of 8 tons for the Superjet passenger aircraft and the Be-200 amphibious aircraft was created using new Russian materials and advanced technologies. The work involves broad cooperation between UEC enterprises, and the experience of creating the PD-14 engine is actively used.

On the part of bmpd, we would like to remind you that on March 17, 2025, the first flight of a prototype of the modified SJ-100 (SSJ100) Superjet️ aircraft with two new Russian PD-8 engines took place in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The PD-8 engines were installed instead of the standard SaM146 on the Superjet️ aircraft with factory number 95157 (OP-2, serial number 157) and
serial number 97012, built in 2018. This marked the beginning of flight tests of the PD-8 as part of the SJ-100 Superjet️ under the SSJ-NEW program.

The first prototype OP-1 (001, serial number 97001, registration number 97021) of the partially import-substituted Russian short-haul aircraft SJ-100 (SSJ-NEW), manufactured by the Production Center of PJSC Yakovlev (part of the UAC of the Rostec State Corporation), made its first flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur on August 29, 2023. At the same time, OP-1 is still equipped with Russian-French SaM146 engines.

The goal of the SSJ-NEW program, launched in 2019, is to create a modification of the aircraft with maximum use of Russian-made equipment.
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The prototype OP-3 of the SJ-100 aircraft, which took off on April 22, 2025, became the 229th flight aircraft of the SuperJet SSJ100 family built since 2008, and the first one built in almost two years.

 

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