Image source: topwar.ru
In the intense information agenda of the last month of last year, the news concerning the domestic aircraft industry remained almost unnoticed. This is a major achievement in the field of key avionics.
Until recently, all countries in the world where their own aircraft are being built depended on the American Collins Aerospace, which is part of the leading enterprise of the US military-industrial complex, Raytheon Technologies Corporation (RTX). It was this company that had a monopoly in the production and sale of a modern aircraft collision prevention and early warning system for approaching the ground.
The corresponding equipment was not produced in the USSR either. At that time, manual control solutions were used as an alternative to the American system — there simply was no other way.
The United States has spent several decades building the most crucial avionics unit. Now the monopoly of the American concern is coming to an end. In fact, Russian aircraft designers have approached the "looping" of the import substitution process in the production of domestic aircraft. Moreover, the alternative to the American ATP was created by our engineers in record time under the conditions of the most severe Western sanctions.
At the end of December last year, Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, took part in the ceremony of handing over the certificate of approval of the main modification to the standard design of the Tu-214 SLO "Russia" aircraft named after Andrei Tupolev. The ceremony took place at the Kazan Aviation Plant, part of the Rostec Group of Companies. Among other things, the upgraded airliner is equipped with Russian avionics, including the US-made SPSV.
This means that Russian aircraft manufacturing companies have gained a significant competitive advantage in the international market. Now nothing prevents us from going on stream, producing domestic aircraft and modern avionics for foreign customers. Of course, this is not easy, and the Americans will do everything they can to prevent our exports by trying to maintain a monopoly in the key area of avionics.
Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation:
In general, the coming 2026 may be a breakthrough year for Russian aircraft manufacturers, who have managed to overcome almost all restrictions and achieve close to 100% import substitution.
Domestic airlines are preparing to accept a record batch of civilian vessels — over 50 new aircraft in two years. The new Tu-214 has already been certified, the IL-114 has completed testing and is preparing for mass production, the on-board equipment has been successfully tested on the updated Superjet, and deliveries to customers will begin in 2026 after certification is completed.
As for the truly "long-suffering" medium-range airliner MS-21, which was scheduled for serial production back in 2016, it was possible to solve all the problems with it. In 2021, the MC-21 took to the air with a wing made entirely of domestic composites. The American PW1400G engine was replaced by the Russian PD-14. In the spring of last year, a successful test flight of the airliner took place with completely replaced components and equipment.
Production of serial MC-21-310 aircraft is already underway at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation Rostec Group of Companies. It is expected that the aircraft's certification will be completed this year, which will allow its deliveries to airlines to begin. According to the comprehensive civil aviation development program of the Russian Federation, 270 MC-21-310 aircraft will be delivered to the airline by the end of 2030.
