Russia Rolls Out Fully Domestic SJ-100, Completes Maiden Flight in April 2025

(KOMSOMOLSK-ON-AMUR) Russia’s first fully domestic Sukhoi Superjet 100 completed its maiden flight on April 23, 2025, lifting off from the Far Eastern city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur and flying for about 40 minutes at 3,000 meters and up to 500 km/h. The aircraft, known as the SJ-100 and identified as factory airframe 97003, is the first version built with all-Russian systems, including new PD-8 engines, avionics, landing gear, auxiliary power unit, and safety systems. Officials called the flight a major step toward getting the jet certified and into airline service.

The test focused on how the PD-8 engines work together with the aircraft’s fully domestic systems. Engineers tracked performance of the power supply, controls, air conditioning, and fire protection during the flight. The manufacturer also redesigned the fuselage to make production and maintenance simpler.

This push to replace imported parts began after Western suppliers left the Russian market in 2022, forcing a complete switch to home-built components across the program.

Flight-test campaign and prototypes

Three prototypes are flying in the current campaign:

• One prototype uses Russian-made systems with legacy SaM146 engines.
• A second is a hybrid: PD-8 engines combined with some imported parts.
• The third—the aircraft that flew in Komsomolsk-on-Amur—is the fully domestic SJ-100 with all systems replaced.

After early tests in the Far East, the program will move to Zhukovsky for formal certification flights under the national regulator.

Certification timeline and production plans

Russia’s certification program is underway with about 130 certification flights planned in 2025, including trials in extreme hot and cold conditions. Officials aim to complete certification by the end of 2025 and begin airline deliveries in February 2026.

Key production and order figures:

• Launch customer: Aeroflot Group — 34 aircraft (firm order)
• Production targets (United Aircraft Corporation):
  • 30 aircraft in 2026
  • 142 aircraft by 2030

Rostec and UAC leadership say timelines are tight but the program remains on its planned path after the April maiden flight.

Regulatory oversight will be provided by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya), which will supervise certification steps, including performance, safety, and reliability checks across the new engines and systems.

After development flights in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, formal certification sorties will be staged near Moscow where test centers and specialized facilities can run the environmental and systems trials needed to close the program.

Industry and market context

The SJ-100 import-substitution program began in 2019. Initially, developers targeted export markets constrained by U.S. sanctions—for example, Iran—and Russian regional routes.

The exit of Western suppliers in 2022 changed the program’s scale and speed:

• Engineers replaced roughly 40 imported systems and components.
• The PD-8 engine (a bypass turbofan rated at about eight tonnes of thrust) had to be advanced on an accelerated timeline.
• Officials say these shifts pushed certification back by about two years.

Industry leaders view the April test as proof that a modern civil jet can be built with Russian parts only, even under embargo. Aviation analysts, however, emphasize remaining challenges:

• Scaling production while maintaining quality as factories ramp up
• Confirming reliability of complex new systems in daily airline service
• Limited export prospects while sanctions remain in place

For now, the home market—backed by state carriers—anchors demand. VisaVerge.com reports that market interest beyond state-backed airlines remains uncertain, with Aeroflot still the primary customer for the SJ-100.

Potential passenger and regional impact

If deliveries land on schedule, the SJ-100 could:

• Replace aging regional aircraft
• Keep routes open between smaller cities
• Support domestic air links and local jobs
• Reduce the risk that external pressure could ground fleets for lack of parts

The fuselage redesign and local sourcing aim to lower maintenance delays by keeping spares and repair work within Russia.

Structured test plan and risk mitigation

Officials have outlined a structured plan to de-risk the schedule. Key steps include:

1. Complete about 130 certification flights in 2025, including hot-and-high and cold-weather checks.
2. Demonstrate stable PD-8 integration with all-new avionics, flight controls, and power systems.
3. Move from development tests in Komsomolsk-on-Amur to certification sorties at Zhukovsky.
4. Close regulator reviews to clear first deliveries in early 2026.

Rostec and UAC are coordinating suppliers to avoid bottlenecks across the domestic supply chain. Critical items include:

• PD-8 engine line production
• Auxiliary power unit manufacture
• Landing gear manufacturing

A delay in any of these can hold up final assembly.

Engineers continue to gather data from earlier prototype flights (SaM146 airframe and the hybrid PD-8/mixed-systems prototype) to refine software and maintenance procedures before airlines receive the first aircraft.

Important: Demand and program success will hinge on real-world performance metrics such as on-time dispatch rates, engine time-on-wing, turnaround times, and day-to-day reliability in airline schedules.

Challenges ahead and program timing

Analysts caution that scaling from a handful of test aircraft to steady monthly output can strain new suppliers, especially when each assembly stage uses new parts and requires fresh training.

If UAC meets its targets (30 aircraft in 2026 and 142 by 2030), carriers could refresh short-haul fleets over the second half of the decade. That would maintain domestic connectivity as older jets retire.

The Aeroflot order provides a baseline for planning crew training, spare parts pools, and route scheduling. Additional orders from other carriers will likely depend on:

• Successful certification
• Stable early operations
• Clear evidence of maintenance and supply-chain resilience

Russia’s aviation authorities will continue to update the certification path as trials progress. Public updates from Rosaviatsiya typically cover system checks, flight envelope expansion, and environmental compliance. Given the level of import substitution, regulators are expected to scrutinize interoperability across all domestic components, especially in systems that previously used imported avionics or hydraulics.

Looking ahead

In Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the April flight drew attention not only for its technical content but also for its symbolic value: a push to ensure that Russian airlines can source, fly, and maintain jets without foreign parts. The SJ-100’s maiden flight marks that goal moving from plans to action.

From here, the test team must turn a successful first outing into a full certificate and a stable production line—work that will be judged by flight hours, dispatch reliability, and deliveries meeting the dates airlines now have on their calendars.