Rostec’s SJ-100 Aircraft Progress Updates and Engine Integration
Sergei Chemezov, president of the Rostec state corporation, stated that the imported SJ-100 passenger aircraft is planned to take off with the Russian PD-8 engine in December of this year. The remarks were reported by RIA News and reflect Rostec’s ongoing efforts to advance domestic propulsion and airframe integration for the SJ-100 program.
According to Chemezov, following this milestone there will be a phase of flight testing to validate performance, handling, and reliability characteristics under a variety of operating conditions. The emphasis is on demonstrating that the aircraft can operate safely with the PD-8 engine as part of the broader goal of import substitution and local capability expansion in the aviation sector.
The first SJ-100 aircraft that was brought into service as part of the import-substitution effort conducted an airborne test flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur on August 29. The flight lasted 54 minutes, achieving a speed of 343 km/h and an altitude around 3,000 meters. During this mission, the crew evaluated several flight-critical features, including stability in the air, controllability, the experience of a takeoff with a lighter-than-usual configuration commonly described as a gentle lift-off, and the performance of a missed-approach procedure when necessary.
Officials from the Ministry of Industry and Trade confirmed that the aircraft demonstrated stable operation of its internal systems during the flight and that the overall controllability and in-air stability were satisfactory. These findings contribute to the ongoing verification process for the SJ-100’s airworthiness with the new propulsion arrangement and future certification steps as the program progresses.
That flight on August 29 marked a significant milestone within the broader test program. The second flight occurred on September 2, 2023, continuing the assessment of avionics integration, flight control responses, and reliability under test conditions. The work aligns with a strategic objective to strengthen domestic aerospace capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign components by expanding the use of Russian-made engines and systems in new aircraft models.
In parallel, prior industry reporting highlighted concerns about the frequency of bird strikes affecting Russian aircraft, an issue that underscores the importance of robust safety protocols, engine performance margins, and flight-test instrumentation. The current SJ-100 testing program is designed to address these safety dimensions while validating the compatibility of the PD-8 engine with the SJ-100 airframe and avionics suite.
Experts emphasize that sustained progress in this program would support broader industrial goals, including technology transfer, supply-chain localization, and the development of a competitive domestic regional airliner capable of serving both civil and regional air transport needs in Russia and its partners. The SJ-100 initiative, with its emphasis on domestic propulsion solutions and rigorous testing, is viewed as a cornerstone of building a more self-reliant aviation industry that can meet evolving market demands while maintaining high safety and reliability standards.