Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the West slapped the Russian aviation industry with comprehensive sanctions. This caused massive shock waves throughout the sector, and overnight, the country's production of regional airliners shuttered to a halt. Over two years on, the Russian production of regional airlines remains in limbo. The future of Russia's once touted Sukhoi Superjet 100 remains in doubt, and none have been produced since the start of the invasion. But it's not just the Superjet - all other Russian regional aircraft (MC-21, Tu-214, Il-114, and Baikal) are affected too.

Sanctions & a race to build jets

At the start of the sanctions, around 400 commercial jets operated by Russian airlines were owned by foreign leasing companies. The Western sanctions demanded these aircraft be returned to the West, but Russia moved quickly to seize them and ban them from flying to third countries (where they could be counter-seized). Since then, Russia has been buying hundreds of these seized aircraft out.

In December 2023, Reuters reported Russia has handed out over $12 billion in subsidies and loans in an effort to keep its aviation sector afloat. Reuters notes that developing its aviation industry alone in the face of Western sanctions is a daunting task, and it also says Russia's technical ability is not in doubt. It reports Russian President Vladimir Putin saying, "Our fleet of aircraft is very overloaded ... with foreign-made planes; we plan to produce more than 1,000 aircraft by 2030, our own planes. Work is needed." Of the 991 aircraft currently operated by Russian airlines, 405 were made in Russia (133 are Superjets). Tupolev, Yakovlev, and Ilyushin are rarely used for commercial flights.

But now Russia is cut off not only from Western jets but also from Western parts needed to maintain those jets and the parts needed to build its own fleet. Russia is working to resurrect its own domestic aircraft production and reduce its reliance on Western jets and parts.

All Russian civilian jets delayed

In 2024, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that the supply of domestic aircraft was postponed by two years. This applies to all Russian-built civilian aircraft - the MC-21, SJ-100, Tu-214, Il-114, and Baikal. It reports that deliveries were supposed to begin in 2024, but they have now been pushed back to 2025-2026. However, even if Russia certifies and produces these domestically produced aircraft, they cannot fly to Europe as the Europeans have withdrawn their certification for the aircraft.

Kommersant also questions the realism of the 2030 production forecast. Another big issue is that the Russian Invasion of Ukraine has gone badly and dragged on for so long that the conflict is consuming more and more of Russia's resources. The Russian economy is now on a war footing, and civil aviation is likely to take a back seat to military needs.

The case of the Superjet

Russia may be the successor to the Soviet Union, but it is not the Soviet Union. Like Ukraine, Russia is one piece (a large piece) of the former USSR. Much of the USSR's aviation industry (such as Antonov) was in Ukraine. This, coupled with the massive Russian economic downturn of the 1990s and other factors, forced Russia to rely on Western parts. Russia's aviation sector, while impressive, is far from that of the USSR. For example, Tass reported the large Russian amphibious aircraft, the Beriev Be-200, had to be re-engined after Ukraine banned the sale of Progress D-436 aircraft engines to Russia with French PowerJet SaM146 engines. But, with the 2022 invasion, the aircraft has to be re-engined again (this time with a Russian engine).

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 was made with a French engine - the SaM146 Safran engine, produced in a 50-50 joint venture called PowerJet between Safran and Russia's NPO Saturn. Safran announced the production of the 300th PowerJet SaM146 in 2017, hailing that "Powerjet was the first civil joint venture in Russia for producing an engine for a brand new aircraft."

But that was another time, and Russia is now forced to 'Russify' its aircraft. The Superjet is being refitted with the domestic Russian Aviadvigatel PD-8 engine. During tests in December 2023, additional work on the PD-8 engines was found to be required. The first 'Russified' SJ-100 had been planned to arrive in 2023, but now it is planned for 2026.

The 'Russification' of aircraft has numerous knock-on effects. For example, Kommersant reported that the flagship MC-21 has become almost 6 tons heavier. This has resulted in its flight range and altitude being significantly reduced. In its previous configuration with Western parts, the MC-21-300 was 5.75 tons lighter. So Russia may be able to produce the MC-21 by itself, but it will be heavier, less efficient, and have less range.

What do you make of the impact of ongoing sanctions on Russia's aviation industry? Share your thoughts by commenting below.