Fully Russian made SJ-100 starts test flights
MOSCOW. April 23 (Interfax) - A Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SJ-100) aircraft with all of its parts made in Russia has joined the test flight program, the Rostec press service said in a statement.
The aircraft with factory number 97003 performed its maiden flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The trials proved stable operation of all Russian-made systems, the statement said.
"The third prototype performed the inaugural flight today. It is testing interaction between PD-8 engines and domestic aircraft systems. The third aircraft joining test flights will expedite the certification program. We are on schedule for now," the press service quoted Rostec First Deputy General Director Vladimir Artyakov as saying.
"The successful beginning of test flights of an aircraft with fully Russian made parts signifies the transition to the final stage of the project. This aircraft will perform about 130 certification flights, including special trials under extreme low and high temperatures," Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said, as quoted by his secretariat.
The flight lasted for about 40 minutes, during which the plane climbed 3,000 meters and reached a top speed of 500 kilometers per hour. Control, hydraulics, air conditioning, piloting and navigation systems were tested on minimal to maximal speeds. In addition, gas dynamic stability of the PD-8 engines was tested. The landing gear was retracted and released in mid-air.
"The import-substituted version of the aircraft is being developed on a very tight schedule. We are planning to finalize certification trials by the end of this year in order to start deliveries to airlines in 2026," Vadim Badekha, general director of Rostec's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), said.
Three aircraft are taking part in test flights. The first SuperJet prototype with Russian-made systems and units and the SaM146 French-Russian engine started flying last year. The second prototype with PD-9 engines and several imported systems joined the program in March 2025.
As part of the import substitution project, the aircraft has been equipped with Russian-made engines, avionics, landing gear, auxiliary power unit, and control, power supply, air conditioning, fire safety and other systems. It also has a new fuselage, modified to simplify aircraft production and maintenance, Rostec said. The PD-8 bypass turbofan engine with an eight-tonne thrust was made of new Russian materials by advanced technologies.
Batch production of SJ-100 aircraft with foreign-made parts and engines was suspended in 2022. The delivery of the import-substituted version is due to begin in 2026, according to respective ministries. The delivery has been previously delayed. For instance, Aeroflot Group was expecting the first two SJ-100 aircraft at the end of 2023.
Under the May edition of the comprehensive program for the development of the aircraft industry, 30 SJ-100 aircraft will be built in 2026, and 142 will be made in total by 2030. In the meantime, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said that aircraft production plans would be revised in 2025, as the certification process nears completion.