Replacing Superjet 100 engines with domestic ones will cost more than the plane itself - the head of the UAC

The operation of Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft in Russia after the departure from the country of the French manufacturer SAM146-Safran, since the replacement of engines with domestic PD-8, including the cost of turbines, is comparable with the residual value of the entire aircraft or will cost even more. This was stated by Vedomosti by the head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Yuri Slyusar NA Exhibition of Civil Aviation Infrastructure Nais 2023.

According to him, this is technically possible, however, the airlines and the state did not resolve economic issues.

“With the residual value of the aircraft, for example, 500 million rubles will be needed for a comparable amount - if not more - buy new components.”

Airlines also want the Russian Federation to learn how to overhaul SAM146, the head of the UAC noted. Now Russian carriers have 150 SSJ100 aircraft. Their decommissioning should be synchronized with the “engine disposal”, while in the reserve several dozen SAM146 engines are still in the reserve. They do not plan to put them on imported SSJ News, they are needed to maintain the current park, Slyusar explained.

The SAM146 engines are a joint project of the French concern of Safran and the Russian NPO Saturn, which is part of the United Engine Corporation (CSC) Rostec. Until March 2022, they were produced and served by the Powerjet joint venture in Rybinsk, but the hot part of the engine was repaired only in France. Such engines were installed only on the SSJ100, now they are planned to be replaced by the domestic PD-8 from the “OSK-Saturn”, yet it has not been certified. At the end of 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov admitted in an interview with the publication that the replacement of SAM146 with Russian PD-8 has not yet been provided.

The Russian aircraft industry was in serious condition after the start of the war with Ukraine and the introduction of sanctions, which actually locked foreign aircraft that are in the leasing of Russian companies within the country. Their repair, as well as Superjet repair, is impossible due to high dependence on imported parts, while foreign owners demand to return the aircraft under the threat of ships. The Insider drew attention to the fact that since mid -2022, the number of accidents has been growing in Russian aviation, including incidents from the chassis. Read more about the unpreparedness of the Russian Federation to sanctions and the lack of quality control of imported parts - by the link .