Aeroflot warns SSJ 100s may be retired without state support
Russian airlines may gradually retire Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft without state funding for replacing foreign engines with domestic ones, as warned by Aeroflot's CEO at the Eastern Economic Forum. The cost of remotorization is estimated at 2.1–2.3 billion rubles per aircraft, though some sources consider this figure too low.
Consensus
- Aeroflot's CEO, Sergey Aleksandrovsky, warned that without state funding, SSJ 100 aircraft will be gradually retired from Russian airlines.
- The retirement is due to the inability to replace foreign engines with domestic ones.
- The remotorization involves replacing Russian-French SaM-146 engines with Russian PD-8 engines.
- The cost of remotorization per aircraft is estimated at 2.1–2.3 million rubles by Kommersant.
- The issue arose after France's Safran ceased participation in the joint venture with Russia's United Engine Corporation (UEC) in 2022.
- There are approximately 160 SSJ 100 aircraft in Russia.
- Aeroflot plans to replace retired SSJ 100s by redistributing flight hours across its fleet and using new MC-21 aircraft.
- Industry discussions have focused on remotorizing about 50 SSJ 100s — roughly one-third of the Russian fleet.
Points of divergence
- Some sources consider the 2.1–2.3 billion rouble estimate for remotorization too low, citing that the cost of a single PD-8 engine exceeded one billion roubles in 2024 and has since increased. — novaya_eu
- Some sources doubt that Russia can produce enough PD-8 engines to meet demand. — novaya_eu
- In addition to engines, remotorization requires replacing nacelles, modifying pylons and part of the wing, as well as the aircraft's electrical system and auxiliary power unit. — tvrain
- Some sources believe the PD-8 engine cost will decrease with mass production, and additional UEC capacity is not needed because future MC-21 production will be reduced. — kommerzant
- The current version of the Complex Aviation Development Program (KPGA) only provides for PD-8 engine production for new SSJ 100s and a spare engine pool. — kommerzant
- UEC previously forecast that nearly the entire SSJ 100 fleet could be retired by 2030 due to engine resource exhaustion. — tvrain
- As of June 28, 130 out of 673 aircraft (19.3%) across 11 major Russian airlines were grounded, including 37 of 349 in the Aeroflot group. — novaya_eu
- The Aeroflot group has 78 SSJ 100s in its fleet, with additional aircraft held by Red Wings, Azimuth, Yamal, IrAero, and Yakutia. — tvrain
Coverage (8 sources)
- Aeroflot Head Warns That Without State Subsidies, SSJ 100 Aircraft Will Have to Be Removed from Russian Airlines' Fleets — ЭХО / Новости
- Aeroflot warns of reduction in number of SSJ 100 without state support — Север.Реалии
- Aeroflot warns of reduction in number of SSJ 100 without state support — Радио Свобода
- Russian airlines will stop operating SSJ 100 without state subsidies — Новая газета Европа
- «Aeroflot» announces gradual withdrawal of SSJ 100 from service without state subsidies — Дождь (Telegram)
- «Aeroflot» warns of gradual withdrawal of SSJ 100 from service without state subsidies — Дождь
- Aeroflot Head Predicted SSJ-100 Loss Due to Lack of Funds for Foreign Engine Replacement — The Moscow Times
- Aeroflot considers engine replacement on SSJ 100 impossible without state assistance — Коммерсантъ
Key entities
- Aeroflot
- Sergey Alexandrovsky
- Commerzant
- SSJ-100
- U
- World Economic Forum 2026
- Remotorization
- Director General of Aeroflot