SJ-100 Production Timeline and Initial Deployment

Industry observers say that serial production of the SJ-100, a Russian short-haul aircraft, is not expected to begin before 2024. Officials from the Airport Civil Aviation Union indicated that moving from prototype flights to full-scale manufacturing involves a careful ramp-up, with public statements on NSN highlighting the timeline and the challenges ahead. By late 2023, the plan was framed around an initial phase of testing, certification, and gradual introduction into the fleet rather than an immediate nationwide rollout. The message from the leadership at the union stressed that the aircraft would enter service in a measured manner, allowing the aviation ecosystem to adapt to a new type of airframe and powerplant configuration. The emphasis was on maintaining safety, reliability, and consistency as the program progresses toward mass production.