Sanctions and Production Strategy at RCC Progress: Current Status and Future Plans
There is no partial redirection of production to the Progress RCC under sanctions. Under international sanction regimes, RCC Progress operates according to pre-approved plans and established programs. The enterprise determines the workload for the main Roscosmos state projects. At present, there are no plans to divert production away from existing commitments.
Regarding the expansion of the non-space product range, the issue is not urgent. The production and design departments are fully occupied with current orders. In the future, RCC Progress is ready to seize opportunities if the enterprise finds it commercially and technically viable.
Questions about the fate of specific products arise. The children’s sled line has been discontinued, with remaining stock sold from inventory. The production of the command ship continues under contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, and production of this equipment can be ordered as needed. The Rysachok aircraft was showcased at MAKS in 2011 and has remained of sustained interest since then.
Rysachok certification was funded by RCC Progress itself. No work has progressed on the project since 2016. Consultations to reinitiate development occurred in 2021, but no decision was reached. The Western sanctions on space enterprises prompted a review of cooperation within the ISS program. The question remains how space technology production, including components related to the ISS, depended on the US and Europe.
RCC Progress asserts that Western sanctions do not constrain its work, including the ISS framework. The production of launch vehicles and remote sensing spacecraft is claimed to be independent of the United States and European partners. The use of Western equipment at Progress continues, including several thousand units sourced over different periods for space technology projects. Many machines have been upgraded to modern standards.
Machining tools such as cutters, drills, and reamers are partly sourced abroad, particularly from Europe, but there is a growing ability to procure these items within Russia. RCC Progress has reduced reliance on imports by leveraging its own tool production capabilities.
Funding for the development of a super-heavy rocket was paused last year. Roscosmos holds responsibility for the decision-making process and project progression. The Soyuz-5 rocket is reported to be on schedule for the initial launch in 2023, with RCC Progress implementing necessary measures to meet obligations.
One notable achievement is the use of friction stir welding in Soyuz-5 tank construction. This technology is new to Russia and is being developed as part of the Soyuz-5 project. Equipment for automatic friction stir welding is supplied by CJSC Sespel, a Russian company. For Soyuz-5, Sespel produced three plants and tooling for welding aluminum alloy components. The equipment enables welding of plates up to approximately 30 mm thick in a single pass, improving strength and ensuring compliance with design requirements. RCC Progress specialists participate in the technology transfer and training programs offered by the manufacturer.
Some early Soyuz-5 tanks were initially produced with traditional argon-arc welding to maintain the project schedule. The tanks intended for the first flight demonstrations will utilize the new friction stir welding technology, while the earlier test units used argon-arc welding to keep milestones on track.
Regarding safety and reliability, the Soyuz family, including Soyuz-MS and Soyuz-2 variants, is recognized as among the most dependable launch systems globally. Reliability coefficients are cited around 0.985, varying by variant. Highly qualified specialists oversee every production stage, with triple controls for critical operations. Automated digital verification systems are also in place to further ensure readiness for launch.
In response to inquiries about the 2018 Soyuz-MS10 incident, the explanation notes an error during the packaging of launch vehicle blocks. An emergency commission within Roscosmos implemented technical and organizational changes to prevent similar incidents. In assembly workshops, comprehensive video and photographic documentation supports high-quality assembly of space hardware, contributing to ongoing safety improvements.
Progress and Roscosmos highlight a record of zero accidents in launches for an extended period, attributing this to experienced specialists and robust quality assurance processes. The broader fleet of Soyuz variants remains a benchmark for reliability in the global space industry, with ongoing investments in automated systems and verifications to bolster confidence in launch readiness.
Attribution: RCC Progress corporate communications and Roscosmos project summaries.