Prototype takes off
Russia presents new long-haul jet
November 1, 2023, 8:35 p.m
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Western sanctions are hurting Russia’s aircraft industry. Now the state-owned company Rostech is presenting a new long-haul aircraft from domestic production. However, experts doubt the competitiveness of the Il-96-400M.
According to official information, the prototype of the modernized long-haul aircraft Ilyushin Il-96-400M has completed its first test flight in the problem-plagued Russian aircraft industry. The government in Moscow announced that the further development of the Il-96 has a range of up to 8,100 kilometers and can transport up to 370 passengers.
“The development of such aircraft is a unique competence that helps to secure the country’s technological sovereignty,” said the head of the state-owned technology group Rostech, Sergei Chemezov. No information was given as to when the four-engine jet designed in Voronezh would be ready for series production.
Russia urgently needs to build its own new aircraft. The foreign aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, which have been mainly used for years, are no longer supplied with spare parts because of the war of aggression against Ukraine – it is one of the most effective Western sanctions.
While Soviet aircraft manufacturers used to produce large quantities, Russian developments have had little success since 1992. The SJ-100 short-haul jet is considered technically unreliable, and the introduction of the MS-21 medium-haul aircraft is behind schedule.
Earlier models of the Il-96 were retired from the state airline Aeroflot because they were uneconomical. Currently, President Vladimir Putin and the Ministry of Defense are primarily using Il-96 aircraft. According to media reports, only 33 machines of the Il-96 series were produced.
Compared to Western passenger aircraft, aviation experts see the Il-96-400M at a disadvantage. While the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787 make do with two engines, the Russian aircraft requires four, which results in higher fuel consumption and more expensive production.