Russian Superjet 100 aircraft equipped
with foreign engines will remain
operational in Russian airline fleets
until 2028 to 2029 following a recent
extension of the service life of the
Russian French SAM 146 engines.
Dimmitri Yadrov, the head of
Rosaviatsia,
made the announcement during a meeting
of the Federation Council Committee on
Economic Policy on October 7th, 2025.
Given the extensive international
sanctions and the stoppage in Western
supply chains that have affected Russia
since 2022, the decision made in
cooperation with the United Corporation
is a crucial step for the country's
civil aviation.
The core of Russia's effort to upgrade
its civil aviation sector is the Sukcoy
Civil Aircraft Company's regional
aircraft, the Superjet 100.
The SAM 146 engines, a joint product of
France's Saffron aircraft engines and
Russia's NPO Saturn are among the many
foreign components used in this
aircraft, which was assembled through
extensive international cooperation.
Following a productive 10 years of
service in Russia, serial production
stopped in 2022 because of the
geopolitical environment and western
sanctions.
These foreign components are still used
by about60
Superjet 100s operated by Russian
airlines today.
Maintaining the operational readiness of
the nation's regional jet fleet depends
critically on extending the SAM 146
engine's airworthiness lifespan.
In his speech, Yadrov clarified that
Rosaviatsia's acceptance of engine
resource extension not only reduces the
possibility of grounding a significant
part of the current fleet, but also
gives the Russian aerospace sector
breathing room as it transitions to
domestically produced alternatives.
In particular, airlines can continue to
operate their Superjet 100s into 2028 or
2029, thanks to the resource extension,
which supports ongoing domestic aviation
connectivity despite supply chain
limitations.
The PD8 engine, which powers the import
substituted Superjet or SJ 100, is the
result of efforts to replace the SAM 146
with a completely domestic alternative.
It was originally expected that the SJ
100 would be introduced in late 2023
with the first two units scheduled for
delivery to Aeroflot Group.
However, the start of SJ 100 deliveries
has been delayed until 2026 due to
technical and regulatory issues. For the
Russian aviation sector, this shift is a
major turning point as it is part of a
larger initiative to strengthen national
aerospace capabilities, overcome
sanctions, and regain technological
independence.
There are currently 1,135
aircraft in the total fleet of 76
Russian airlines, 1,08 of which are in
active service. Yadrov gave a relatively
cautious assessment of fleet
preservation, predicting that by 2030,
more than 300 aircraft, 230 of which are
of Russian origin and 200 helicopters,
190 of which are domestically made, may
be retired. These figures demonstrate
how strongly the industry depends on
timely maintenance, capacity expansion,
and regulatory flexibility.
To guarantee continued airworthiness and
operational continuity, Rosiviatsia
introduced new procedures for certifying
alterations to aviation equipment.
These challenges have been eased by a
significant legislative action. Changes
to the Russian Air Code now allow the
use of analog components and the
granting of PMA or parts manufacturer
approval certifications.
Given the extensive restrictions on
international parts and logistical
support, this legal flexibility is
highly useful. Since early 2023, Russian
regulatory bodies have re-examined the
framework for import substitution,
engineering certification, and technical
authorization, focusing not only on
engine components, but also on avionics
and vital flight safety systems.
According to official documents and
aerospace technical news,
the average fleet age in Russia,
according to Yadrov, is approximately 14
years for the top 15 airlines, which is
much younger than the fleets of many
major European and American carriers.
Russia may benefit from this relatively
young fleet, which allows the sector to
spend more on upkeep and domestic
development.
Rosaviatsia is aware of ongoing safety
concerns with outdated Soviet-built
aircraft, particularly the Antinov2 and
24 and 26 and MI8 helicopters which are
still widely used on regional flights.
These aircraft are involved in a growing
number of incidents.
Outdated avionics, obsolete flight
control and navigation systems, and a
lack of professional retraining for
flight crews are the main causes of
these difficulties. According to Yedrov
and other industry experts,
one factor contributing to safety issues
is the lack of modern flight data
monitoring and analysis.
To lower incident rates in the legacy
fleet, full-scale modernization,
including digital navigation technology,
improved pilot training, and real-time
flight safety analytics is required.
According to Russian technical experts
cited by aviation publications,
the shift from foreign engineered
platforms such as the original Superjet
100 to the domestically powered SJ 100
is more than just technological.
It includes regaining control of the
certification chain within Russia,
extending resources through domestic
engineering oversight, and establishing
new legal frameworks that guarantee
support for analog replacement parts.
For instance, the PD8 engine developed
and tested over the last 3 years passed
rigorous modular certification in
accordance with Russian Federal Aviation
Regulations.
The United Engine Corporation's
documentation of these tests and their
successful completion solidified the
engine's position as the cornerstone of
Russia's regional jet import
substitution campaign.
Overall, the continued use of Superjet
100 aircraft powered by SAM 146 engines
into 2028 and 2029 is an engineering and
policy accomplishment rather than a
temporary measure. While absorbing the
shocks of global isolation and supply
chain disruptions, it ensures the
continuation of medium and short hall
domestic air services, serving as an
essential link for hundreds of towns.
Russia's civil aviation will gradually
regain independence as SJ 100 deliveries
begin and legislative changes take
effect, providing more resilience
against geopolitical uncertainty and
establishing a strong foundation for
future growth.
If you like this video, please like,
share and subscribe.
Also, please take our channel membership
which is very affordable to encourage
us.