Russian Superjet makes milestone test flight (VIDEO)
A prototype of Russia's new SJ-100 superjet, equipped with domestically produced engines, has successfully completed its first test flight, the state-owned Rostec corporation announced on Monday.
Russia's aviation industry has faced increasing pressure to replace Western-made components due to sanctions imposed after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. In response, the SJ-100 program was developed to eliminate foreign reliance, replacing around 40 imported systems with Russian alternatives, including avionics, landing gear, auxiliary power units, and control systems. The PD-8 engine, domestically developed by the United Engine Corporation, is a crucial element of this effort.
According to Rostec, the SuperJet remained airborne for approximately 40 minutes during the test flight, reaching a speed of 500kph and an altitude of 3,000 meters. Engineers assessed the gas-dynamic stability of the PD-8 engines under various conditions. The engines performed steadily and the flight objectives were met in full, according to Rostec.
The company's CEO, Sergey Chemezov, emphasized the significance of the milestone for Russian aviation, noting that 'today's flight confirms the accuracy of our engineering calculations and the high readiness of the aircraft.'
'This project has been implemented within an extremely tight timeframe by global aviation standards. After 2022, we essentially had to reassemble the Superjet from scratch. The engine is one of the key components of this import substitution program – it is the 'heart' of the aircraft,' Chemezov added.
The head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsiya, Dmitry Yadrov, also underlined the importance of the SJ-100 with PD-8 engines for certification purposes, noting that domestically produced aircraft are vital for ensuring Russian airlines' independence from foreign equipment and parts. According to Yadrov, the nation's air traffic is projected to increase by 1.5 times by 2030, making the SJ-100 a key element in expanding domestic air travel.
The Superjet SJ-100 is a Russian regional passenger aircraft that was initially developed with several foreign components. Following the 2022 sanctions, Sukhoi announced the development of a fully domestically built version of the aircraft, marking a major step toward achieving technological self-sufficiency in Russia's aviation industry.
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