Russian SJ-100 military aircraft completes its initial flight test.
Cruisin' with the SJ-100, Russia's Homegrown Aviation Marvel
Y’all might've heard the buzz about this bad boy - the SJ-100 aircraft, a made-in-Russia spin-off of the iconic Sukhoi Superjet 100. This beaut is struttin' her stuff right now, undergoing some serious certification tests with a brand-spankin’ new Russian engine, the PD-8. This engine swap is all part of Russia’s import substitution program after those pesky international sanctions.
The PD-8's Big Leagues Debut
The SJ-100 with the PD-8 engine made its grand entrance on March 17, 2025. Yep, you read that right, our SJ-100 darling cruised the skies for a solid 40 minutes, reaching heights of 3,000 m and speeds of up to 500 km/h. The flight went off without a hitch, and the PD-8 showed some solid, stable operation, according to the proud folks over at Rostec.
Three's a Crowd - Or More, in This Case
Rostec’s first deputy director, Vladimir Artyakov, spilled the beans on a juicy detail – three aircraft will be joinin’ the certification trials. That's right, folks, more SJ-100s are gonna be hitting the friendly skies soon, helping to certify the PD-8 engine, further solidifying its position in the aviation world.
The SJ-100's Russian-French Rival – The SaM146 Edition
Remember the SJ-100 with the Russian-French SaM146 engine? That was all the rage a while back. But now, we're venture-ing into new territory with the PD-8 engine. Why the switch? Simple – reduction of foreign component dependency and alignment with import substitution goals.
A Showdown Between Engine Versions
The original Superjet 100s were saddled with the SaM146 engine. Now, we’re all about the PD-8, baby! The certification and operational processes for the SaM146 are more established, but the PD-8 version is still kickin' it in the certification phase. Deliveries of the SJ-100 with PD-8 engines are expected to start in 2026, so get your wallets ready!
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Sources:[1] Latest SJ-100 flight test with PD-8 engine shows stable operation, by Anna Melenteva, March 17, 2025[2] Rostec to test third aircraft in the certification of Sukhoi Superjet 100 with the PD-8 engine, by Anna Melenteva, April 1, 2025[3] United Aircraft Corporation to certify PD-8 engine by the end of 2025, by Anna Melenteva, February 2, 2025[4] SJ-100 with PD-8 engine completes first 40-minute flight, by Anna Melenteva, March 17, 2025[5] SJ-100 with PD-8 engine: Everything you need to know, by Anna Melenteva, March 20, 2025
- The PD-8 engine, installed in the SJ-100 aircraft, is currently undergoing rigorous certification tests, aiming for airworthiness confirmation by 2025, as confirmed by Rostec, a key player in the Russian aerospace and defense industry.
- The finance sector is actively monitoring these developments, as the successful integration of the PD-8 engine could potentially lead to a reduced reliance on foreign engine suppliers within the Russian aerospace industry.
- The upcoming test flights of three additional SJ-100 aircraft equipped with the PD-8 engine are expected to further solidify the engine's position in the Russian aviation market.
- As the SJ-100 with the PD-8 engine prepares for deliveries in 2026, it is set to go head-to-head with its Russian-French counterpart, the SJ-100 with the SaM146 engine, in the competitive aerospace market.
