First Production PD-8 engines delivered for SJ-100 |

United Engine Company in Russia has delivered the first production PD-8 engines to Yakovlev for installation on the fully Russian-built SJ-100. The fully Russian version of the SJ-100 is approaching certification, and when approved, will enable Russian airlines to replace older aircraft with newer models. Having a Russian engine for the aircraft became a necessity after additional sanctions were imposed by the US and EU after the start of the conflict in Ukraine. [caption id="attachment_196626" align="aligncenter" width="640"] image: Izvestia[/caption] The PD-8 engine received its type certificate in June, 2026 after a multi-year development and flight test program. The engine will replace the Franco-Russian Safran-NPO Saturn SaM146 engines used on the SJ-100, initially labeled the Sukhoi Superjet SSJ-Safra100. A history of the program can be found via the attached link. Producing 18,000 pounds of thrust each, the PD-8 is more powerful than the 16,100 pounds of thrust from the SaM146-1S18 that it replaces. Full Russian Supply to Avoid Sanctions Along with the UAC Engines (formerly Aviadvigadel), a number of key western suppliers have been replaced with Russian suppliers. That includes avionics and control systems from Thales and Honeywell being replaced by systems provided by GosNIIAS, KRET, and Polyot. The SJ-100 is expected to be certified soon, certainly before the end of the year, with serial production ramp-up beginning in early 2027. With aircraft engines the most difficult component to replace, this certification places the aircraft on the fast track for certification, which we understand is mostly paperwork after completion of the required test flights. The Bottom Line Sanctions on the Russian aircraft industry hit hard, and the country needed to pivot to domestically built components to continue to produce aircraft. The forthcoming MS-21, which is also approaching certification, will provide a larger alternative to the SJ-100 and enable Russian airlines to replace older models that are becoming obsolete. The SJ100 provides airlines a regional aircraft of modern design that will enable a refresh of Russian airline fleets. Between the Ilyushin IL-114 turboprop, Tupolev Tu-204, Yakovlev MS-21 and Yakolev SJ-100, four different commercial aircraft will be ramping up production in Russia to avoid sanctions.Russia has traditionally been a producer of commercial aircraft and the development of all-Russian version of multiple programs makes sense. Having observed what happened in Russia, China is also working on a domestic version of its C919 trunk-liner. While we do not expect the SJ-100 to be popular internationally, it will likely be sold to other countries under sanctions, including Iran, who also face a shortage of modern aircraft. Iran Asseman is a likely customer for the all-Russian model. As the old adage states, necessity is the mother of invention.

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