About the most notable achievements of the Russian aviation industry in the past year
The past year has been a year of transition for the aircraft manufacturing division of Rostec State Corporation from individual stages of import substitution to the preparation of a full-fledged production cycle. In almost all key programs, it was possible to reach the milestones that bring the mass production of fully domestic aircraft closer. In 2025, the import-substituted MS-21, Superjet-100 and Ansat helicopters with Russian engines made their first flight, and the Tu-214 aircraft with domestic systems received approval for the main change.
The Superjet-100 aircraft with PD-8 engines made its first flight
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| The Superjet-100 airliner. |
| Source: United Aircraft Corporation |
The most notable progress was demonstrated by the program of the updated Superjet-100 short-range airliner. About 40 imported systems were replaced on the aircraft, including avionics, landing gear, air conditioning system, auxiliary power plant and, most importantly, the power plant. The transition to the Russian PD-8 engine, created by specialists of the United Engine Corporation (UEC), has become a key condition for the liner's technological independence.
In 2025, flight tests of an aircraft with Russian engines began and successfully continued. The first flight of an experimental Superjet powered by a PD-8 engine took place on March 17. New experimental machines joined the program in stages, then they flew across the country, confirming their readiness for certification tests. In autumn, the first flight of the SJ-100, built entirely using serial technologies, took place. This stage actually paved the way for the launch of mass production: a wide cooperation of more than 140 enterprises was formed, ensuring the supply of all key systems and assemblies.
The MS-21 airliner with new Russian systems made its first flight
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| The MS-21 liner. |
| Source: United Aircraft Corporation |
The MC-21 medium-range aircraft program has also taken a significant step forward. The airliner with new domestic systems — from avionics to power supply and air conditioning — has begun certification tests, which include more than two hundred flights and confirmation of all flight performance characteristics of the aircraft. In April, the MC-21 made its first flight with new Russian systems, and in October, a second import-substituted aircraft joined the test flights, ensuring the necessary pace of the program.
The MC-21 retains the status of a key Russian project in the field of civil aviation: advanced aerodynamics, composite wing and PD-14 engines manufactured by UEC provide high flight performance and reduced operating costs compared to their counterparts.
The new IL-114-300 has joined the flight test program.
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| Regional aircraft IL-114-300. |
| Source: United Aircraft Corporation |
The IL-114-300 regional aircraft has also progressed along the certification path. In 2025, the third prototype aircraft joined the test program, which made it possible to increase the intensity of flights, significantly increase the amount of processed data and perform the bulk of certification tests. By the end of the year, the aircraft interior installation was successfully completed at the P. A. Voronin Lukhovitsky Aviation Plant. The IL-114-300 consists entirely of Russian components, including the TV7-117ST-01 engines manufactured by UEC.
The Tu-214 aircraft with domestic systems has received approval for the main change
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| The Tu-214 airliner. |
| Source: United Aircraft Corporation |
The Tu-214 airliner with a modern domestic complex of avionics and components, including advanced security systems, has received a certificate of approval for the main modification of the standard design. The Tu-214 is a medium—range narrow-body aircraft with a capacity of up to 210 passengers. The machine is equipped with domestic PS-90A aircraft engines, which are designed and manufactured by UEC. According to the plans of the United Aircraft Corporation, it is planned to increase the production of the Tu‑214 to 20 units per year by the end of 2027.
The first prototypes of the upgraded Yak-130M aircraft were built
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| Yak-130M. |
| Source: United Aircraft Corporation |
Another area of development was the modernization project of the Yak-130 combat training aircraft. In 2025, the first prototype Yak-130M was built and sent for ground and flight testing, and then the second prototype was manufactured. The upgrade significantly expands the capabilities of the aircraft: while maintaining all the capabilities for training pilots of the "4+" and "5" generation fighters, the aircraft will be able to use air-to-air missiles and high-precision air-to-surface weapons with various guidance systems. It is noteworthy that in the same year, the Yak-130M was first presented abroad at the Dubai Airshow 2025.
The import-substituted Ansat helicopter made its first flight
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| The Ansat helicopter. |
| Source: Russian Helicopters |
The main event in the helicopter industry was the first flight of the import—substituted Ansat, a light multipurpose helicopter from the Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ, Russian Helicopters Holding Company) equipped with a Russian VK-650V engine developed by ODK. This is a fundamentally new power plant for domestic aviation: engines of this class have not been produced in the country before, and the type certificate received confirmed readiness for serial production and operation on a wide range of light helicopters. The type certificate for the VK-650V engine was received in early 2025.
In addition to the remotorization, KVZ specialists comprehensively redesigned the machine's systems and design, achieving increased reliability and operational characteristics. The first foreign presentation of the import-substituted Ansat was held in November at the Dubai Airshow 2025 international exhibition, where a medical version of the helicopter was presented.
