Alikhanov announced the delivery of import-substituted Superjets in early 2026

Deliveries of fully import-substituted Superjet (SJ-100) aircraft with a domestic PD-8 engine to customers will begin in early 2026, Anton Alikhanov, head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, said on April 18 after a visit to the ODK-Saturn enterprise (part of Rostec United Engine Corporation) in Rybinsk.

"By the end of the year, we have a task to fully complete these tests, and next year we will begin deliveries of our Superjet with the new PD-8 engine at the beginning of the year," Interfax quoted him as saying.

Alikhanov noted that in March, a Superjet aircraft with a PD-8 engine had already flown. The second car is currently being prepared for departure, and its departure is scheduled to take place in late April or early May.

"As we previously announced, the first flight of a fully import-substituted aircraft may happen by the end of April. We are waiting for a third car with this engine, it will be a fleet that will be engaged in certification," he added.

Sky in a jet: a plane with a PD-8 engine made its first flight

Certification is expected in the fall of 2025

On April 17, Rostec State Corporation denied that the certification of the import-substituted Superjet was postponed to March 2026 due to the delay in certification of the Russian PD-8 engine. They noted that the company is operating within the planned deadlines and plans to start delivering aircraft to airlines in 2026. Engine certification, as before, is scheduled for autumn 2025.

On March 17, the Russian prototype SJ-100 aircraft made its first flight with domestic PD-8 engines. It was clarified that the engines showed stable operation.