The newest version of the Russian regional jet Superjet 100, equipped exclusively with domestically produced components, has arrived at the airfield of the M.M. Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky to begin flight certification tests.
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The experimental prototype, numbered 97003, honors Yuri Ivashechkin, the first chief designer of the SSJ-100, and completed a long-distance ferry flight from Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The journey, spanning approximately 6,000 kilometers, included technical stops at the airports of Irkutsk and Novosibirsk.
The flight crew consisted of test pilots Dmitry Demenev, Alexander Verkhov, and Igor Grevtsev, along with flight test engineer Maxim Grukanov. The flight lasted about 9 hours, reaching altitudes of up to 12,000 meters and cruising speeds of 0.78 Mach.
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“The flight was carried out according to the standard profile of the base aircraft, and all onboard systems operated as expected. Intermediate landings were successfully executed at major airports, which demonstrates the aircraft’s high level of readiness,” said Demenev.
After arriving in Zhukovsky, the Superjet was transferred to the Yakovlev Aviation Technical Complex, where it will be prepared for the flight certification test program. Upcoming stages include flights under typical operational conditions, focusing on performance and reliability validation.
The domestically produced Superjet first took flight on April 23, 2025. It is the third prototype to join the flight certification testing program.
The jet’s development is part of Russia’s import substitution initiative in aviation. All foreign systems and components have been replaced with domestic equivalents, including engines (now PD-8 from UEC), auxiliary power units, avionics, landing gear, electrical systems, air conditioning, flight control, fire protection, and more.
In addition, the aircraft’s fuselage has undergone modifications that simplify production and maintenance processes, contributing to greater industrial efficiency.
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Chief designer Kirill Kuznetsov stated that the Russian systems performed reliably during the flight and noted that the next test tasks will involve verifying performance under different operational modes.
Source and images: Telegram @uac_ru. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
