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| MC-21 |
The MC-21 aircraft’s type certificate will be expanded through the allocation of 21.7 billion rubles (approximately USD 240.67 million) for research and development work, as announced by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. The project is anticipated to be finalized by the end of 2027 and will be executed in three distinct phases. PJSC “Yakovlev,” which encompasses the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, will execute the project.
The aircraft’s compliance with rigorous civil aviation certification requirements was verified by the acquisition of the type certificate for the MC-21 at the end of 2021. This is a critical stage in the process of improving the competitiveness of the Russian aviation industry, as it is required to conduct tests with import-substituted systems and components via certificate expansion.
The MC-21-300 with Western parts was denied European certification on March 14, 2022, and there is no indication that this decision will be reversed while Russian military forces remain in Ukraine. The aircraft’s capacity to operate in European markets is restricted by its lack of certification.
Furthermore, a key modification of the PD-14 aviation turbofan engine has been authorized by the Russian certification agency Rosaviatsiya. The power unit’s operation is authorized at low temperatures by the document.
The Approval of the key modification was issued by the Federal Air Transport Agency on December 25, 2024. The document certifies the PD-14’s standard design functionality without restrictions under icing conditions and confirms the engine’s conformance with the Certification Basis requirements according to Part 33 of the Aviation Regulations.
Flight safety necessitates reliable engine performance at low temperatures. Internal engine components may be damaged by icing, which can result in compressor malfunction. Previously, the MC-21-300 version was tested at an outside air temperature of -30 degrees Celsius near the ground. The aircraft’s systems have previously been successfully tested on stands at temperatures as low as -55 degrees Celsius. The MC-21-310 has yet to undergo these tests.
The PD-14’s design is characterized by the use of domestically produced materials and engineering solutions that increase its ability to withstand external impacts, such as the ingestion of ice fragments.
Yuri Shmotin, Chief Designer of UEC said, “The modification removes operational restrictions on engine performance in icing conditions at ambient temperatures below minus 10°C. This expands the operational capabilities of the new-generation domestic aircraft engine.” According to Yuri Shmotin the MC-21-310 aircraft is presently undergoing additional certification flight tests for the PD-14-based powerplant.
A special test apparatus was used to evaluate the engine’s performance in icing conditions. This rig was equipped with a water aerosol injection system and a freezing chamber. The tests consisted of a transition to takeoff mode, followed by 30 minutes of low-power operation at temperatures varying from -9°C to -1°C.
These engines are presently being used in additional certification flights for the MC-21-310 aircraft.
The PD-14 is the first new-generation turbofan aircraft engine to be developed in modern Russia. It is intended for the MC-21-310 aircraft, which was certified in December 2022 and conducted its first flight with these engines in December 2020.
Russia also continues to enhance the engine. Advanced technology has been developed in Ufa as part of the activities of the Eurasian Scientific and Educational Center (SEC) of the Republic of Bashkortostan for the production of a cylindrical fan blade for the PD-14 aircraft engine. Hollow blades provide numerous benefits, such as enhanced efficacy and reduced weight, as a result of their design. This, in turn, enhances engine performance and decreases fuel consumption.
Elena Druzhinina, Managing Director for Science and Business Cooperation at Rostec said, “The SEC has become a platform that has enabled representatives of various industries to collaborate. Today, we are already seeing the results of this cooperation. For example, the Institute of Problems of Superplasticity of Metals of the Russian Academy of Sciences has developed a technology for manufacturing a component of the PD-14 aircraft engine—a hollow fan blade,”
Initially, the MC-21 will likely receive the PD-14 engine with conventional blades. The hollow fan blades must undergo a full cycle of testing before a decision is made on their integration into the power unit.
The PD-14 is the first Russian turbofan engine designed for civil aviation. Featuring low fuel consumption, reduced pollution levels, and reduced emissions of harmful substances, it was developed using advanced technologies and domestic composite materials.
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