Aircraft industry of Russia
Encyclopedia
Aircraft manufacturing is an important industry sector in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, employing around 355,300 people. The dissolution of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 led to a deep crisis for the industry, especially for the civilian aircraft segment. The situation started improving during the middle of the first decade of the 2000s due to growth in air transportation and increasing demand. A consolidation programme launched in 2005 led to the creation of the United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation may refer to one of the following:* United Aircraft Corporation, formerly United Aircraft and Transport Corporation; now known as United Technologies Corporation....

 holding, which includes most of the industry's key companies.

The Russian aircraft industry offers a portfolio of internationally competitive military aircraft such as MiG-29 and Su-27, while new projects such as the Sukhoi Superjet 100
Sukhoi Superjet 100
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a modern, fly-by-wire regional jet in the 75- to 95-seat category. With development starting in 2000, the plane was designed by the civil aircraft division of the Russian aerospace company Sukhoi in co-operation with Western partners...

 are hoped to revive the fortunes of the civilian aircraft segment. In 2009, companies belonging to the United Aircraft Corporation delivered 95 new fixed-wing aircraft to its customers, including 15 civilian models. In addition, the industry produced over 141 helicopters.

Post-Soviet adjustments

Aerospace was a well-developed industry in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

. In late 1980s, the Soviet Union accounted for 25% of the worldwide civilian and 40% of the worldwide military aircraft production. The consequences of the Soviet Union's dissolution
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...

 in 1991 were however catastrophic. The whole manufacturing sector was devastated by imports, while the aerospace and automobile industries barely managed to survive under highly protective tariffs. On the positive side, the military aircraft industry managed to benefit from improving export possibilities. It profited from a large stock of components and parts which had been produced during Soviet times. The civilian aircraft industry faced much worse: while in 1990, the country had produced 715 civilian aircraft, by 1998 the number had dropped to 54 and in 2000 only 4 civilian aircraft were produced.

As the industry structure was deeply fractionalised, the consensus was that consolidation was necessary. For this purpose, President Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...

 created the VPK-MAPO
MAPO
MiG MAPO or just MAPO is a major Russian state-owned military aircraft manufacturer. It was formed in January 1996 by decree of President Boris Yeltsin. Comprising 20 leading military and civil aircraft-building plants...

 (Military Industrial Complex – Moscow Aircraft Production Association), which included some key companies such as Mikoyan
Mikoyan
Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG , or RSK MiG, is a Russian joint stock company. Formerly Mikoyan-and-Gurevich Design Bureau , then simply Mikoyan, it is a military aircraft design bureau, primarily designing fighter aircraft...

. MAPO later became the Russian Aircraft Company (RAC) 'MiG'. This stage of consolidation was however not very successful, and MAPO was later merged with Sukhoi
Sukhoi
Sukhoi Company is a major Russian aircraft manufacturer, headquartered in Begovoy District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow, famous for its fighters...

.

The aerospace industry's total output in 2000 was $2.7 billion, with a net profit of $600 million. Exports of military aircraft in 2000 amounted to $1.3 billion.

2000–2005: Start of a recovery

At the turn of the millennium, the civilian aircraft industry was in a deep crisis. Only a few aircraft were built and after-sale maintenance was minuscule. Many planes, both new and old, failed to receive international safety and envinronmental certifications. Two key companies, Aviastar-SP
Aviastar-SP
CJSC Aviastar-SP is a Russian aircraft factory based in Ulyanovsk. It is a closed shares joint stock company. It has replaced the Soviet Ulyanovsk Aviation Industrial Complex and manufactures the cargo aircraft An-124 Ruslan and the whole Tu-204 family...

 and Voronezh Aircraft Production Association
Voronezh Aircraft Production Association
OJSC Voronezh aircraft production association or Voronezh Aircraft Plant is one of the largest aircraft production plants in Russia.- Overview :...

 were almost bankrupt. The profits of the civilian aircraft industry totaled just $300 million in 2001. In 2001–2006 the situation started improving considerably, as the industry started receiving new orders from leasing companies. Air transportation grew about 8% a year, and by 2004 domestic demand for new aircraft was soaring. Key companies managed to pay their debts or get them restructured, and production levels were increasing again.

The military aircraft industry survived the 15 years of crisis almost exclusively through exports. Only in 2005 did the industry start to receive substantial financing form the state budget.

2005–2010: Industry consolidation programme

In 2005, the government under President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...

 initiated an industry consolidation programme to bring the main aircraft producing companies under a single umbrella organization, the United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation may refer to one of the following:* United Aircraft Corporation, formerly United Aircraft and Transport Corporation; now known as United Technologies Corporation....

 (UAC). The aim was optimize production lines and minimise losses. The programme was divided in three parts: reorganization and crisis management (2007–2010), evolution of existing projects (2010–2015) and further progress within the newly created structure (2015–2025).

The UAC, one of the so-called national champions
National champions
National champion is a political concept in which large corporations in strategic sectors are expected not only to seek profit but also to "advance the interests of the nation.”This policy has been popular and practiced by many countries....

 and comparable to EADS
EADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...

 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

, enjoyed considerable financial support from the Russian government, and injected money to the companies it had acquired to improve their financial standing. The UACs first budget in 2007, was about 2 billion rubles, and next year it increased to 24 billion rubles (about $770 million).

The deliveries of civilian aircraft increased to 6 in 2005, and in 2009 the industry delivered 15 civilian aircraft, worth 12.5 billion roubles, mostly to domestic customers.

Despite the global financial crisis, Russia's aircraft manufacturing industry as a whole managed to increase production and sales by 19.5% in 2009.

Fifth generation fighter

In 1998, the Russian Air Force
Russian Air Force
The Russian Air Force is the air force of Russian Military. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin. The Russian Navy has its own air arm, the Russian Naval Aviation, which is the former Soviet Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota , or AV-MF).The Air Force was formed from...

 asked the industry to develop a light multirole frontline aircraft. In 2001, the requirements were upgraded to a multirole frontline aircraft system, which later became the 5th generation fighter PAK-FA, regarded as Russia's response to the American Joint Strike Fighter. The PAK-FA performed its maiden flight in 2010, breaking America's
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 complete monopoly on the development and production of fifth generation jets. Moscow Defense Brief
Moscow Defense Brief
Moscow Defense Brief is a bimonthly English-language defense magazine published by Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies , an independent defense think-tank.- Overview :...

 hailed it as a major coup for the Russian aerospace industry, saying that:
"while not America’s equal militarily, Russia is still a solid second in terms of defense technology, outranking both Western Europe and China and punching well above its economic weight."


Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin has announced that government will increase financing of russian defence industry complex.

Sukhoi Superjet 100

The Sukhoi Superjet 100
Sukhoi Superjet 100
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a modern, fly-by-wire regional jet in the 75- to 95-seat category. With development starting in 2000, the plane was designed by the civil aircraft division of the Russian aerospace company Sukhoi in co-operation with Western partners...

 regional airliner is the first major Russian civilian aircraft whose development was started after 1991. The plane, which first flew in 2008, has been described as the most important and successful civil aircraft program of the Russian aerospace industry. Designed by the United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation may refer to one of the following:* United Aircraft Corporation, formerly United Aircraft and Transport Corporation; now known as United Technologies Corporation....

 subsidiary Sukhoi
Sukhoi
Sukhoi Company is a major Russian aircraft manufacturer, headquartered in Begovoy District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow, famous for its fighters...

 in cooperation with foreign partners, all versions of the plane are assembled by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association
Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association
Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association , based in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Russian Far East, is the largest aircraft-manufacturing company in Russia.- Overview :...

 (KnAAPO) in the Russian Far East
Russian Far East
Russian Far East is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i.e., extreme east parts of Russia, between Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean...

, while Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association
Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association
Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association named after V.P. Chkalov is one of the largest aircraft production companies in Russia.The company produces Su-34 fighter-bombers and An-38-120 regional passenger aircraft. It is also involved in the Sukhoi Superjet 100 program, where it is one of the...

 (NAPO) focuses on component production. The two companies have been heavily investing in upgrading of their facilities, and are expected to produce 70 airframes by 2012.

MS-21

Development of the MS-21 passenger aircraft was begun in the early 2000s. The aircraft, which has a passenger capacity of 150–200 and a range of 5,000 km, is being designed by Irkut Corporation in cooperation with foreign partners. It is targeted at the most popular segment of the domestic airline industry, and is intended to replace older planes such as the Tupolev Tu-154
Tupolev Tu-154
The Tupolev Tu-154 is a three-engine medium-range narrow-body airliner designed in the mid 1960s and manufactured by Tupolev. As the mainstay 'workhorse' of Soviet and Russian airlines for several decades, it serviced over a sixth of the world's landmass and carried half of all passengers flown...

. The program is currently in the design phase. The plane's maiden flight is expected to take place in 2014, and deliveries will start in 2016. The developers aim to sell 1,200–1,500 planes in total, amounting to a 12–15% share of the international market.

Other projects

Other new aircraft developed in recent times include the Yak-130 advanced trainer and light attack jet, the modernized Tu-204SM and the Ukrainian An-148 regional aircraft, which is mostly manufactured in Russia in Voronezh. Russian manufacturer of amphibian
aircraft Beriev also aim to manufacture several new designs for passengertraffic.

Structure

In 2008, the aircraft industry consisted of 106 enterprises, 18 of which belonged to the United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation may refer to one of the following:* United Aircraft Corporation, formerly United Aircraft and Transport Corporation; now known as United Technologies Corporation....

. One of the most successful companies is Sukhoi
Sukhoi
Sukhoi Company is a major Russian aircraft manufacturer, headquartered in Begovoy District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow, famous for its fighters...

, which possesses a wide portfolio of internationally competitive military aircraft, including the Su-27, Su-30 and Su-35 models. On the civilian segment, the company's most important project is the Superjet 100. Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association
Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association
Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association , based in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Russian Far East, is the largest aircraft-manufacturing company in Russia.- Overview :...

, Russia's largest aircraft enterprise, is responsible for manufacturing Sukhoi products. Joint Stock Company Tupolev
Tupolev
Tupolev is a Russian aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Basmanny District, Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow. Known officially as Public Stock Company Tupolev, it is the successor of the Tupolev OKB or Tupolev Design Bureau headed by the Soviet aerospace engineer A.N. Tupolev...

 focuses on the civil aviation market with its Tu-204 and Tu-214 planes, but is also responsible for the long-range bomber Tu-160 and for developing its successors. Mass production of Tu-204 planes is accomplished by Aviastar SP, located in Ulyanovsk
Ulyanovsk
Ulyanovsk The city is the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin , for whom it is named.-History:Simbirsk was founded in 1648 by the boyar Bogdan Khitrovo. The fort of "Simbirsk" was strategically placed on a hill on the Western bank of the Volga River...

, while the Tu-214 variant is produced by Kazan Aircraft Production Association
Kazan Aircraft Production Association
Kazan Aircraft Production Association is an aircraft manufacturer based in Kazan, Russia.-Overview:KAPO currently produces Tu-214 passenger planes and Tu-160 strategic bombers. There are also plans to start producing Tu-334 regional airliners and Tu-330 freighters.The company was established in...

. Ilyushin
Ilyushin
Open Joint Stock Company «Ilyushin Aviation Complex» , operating as Ilyushin or Ilyushin Design Bureau, is a Russian design bureau and aircraft manufacturer, founded by Sergey Vladimirovich Ilyushin. Ilyushin was established under the Soviet Union. Its operations began on January 13, 1933, by...

 focuses on the military cargo and transport sector. Irkut has a portfolio of trainer and amphibious aircraft projects and competes in the onboard electronics and avionics niche. In the unmanned aerial vehicle segment, ZALA Aero
ZALA Aero
ZALA Aero is a company specialising in unmanned aerial vehicle development, located in Izhevsk, Russia. ZALA Aero has provided UAV systems for several sectors of the Russian government, including the Ministry of Defence, and has also won contracts to supply UAVs to foreign countries.- History...

 and Vega Radio Engineering Corporation
Vega Radio Engineering Corporation
JSC Vega Radio Engineering Corporation is a Russian company specializing in military surveillance systems.-Overview:The company develops terrestrial, air and space surveillance systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles . It also manufactures civilian products, such as air traffic control equipment...

 are among the leading companies.
United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation
United Aircraft Corporation may refer to one of the following:* United Aircraft Corporation, formerly United Aircraft and Transport Corporation; now known as United Technologies Corporation....

Russian Helicopters
Russian Helicopters
Russian Helicopters is a helicopter design and manufacturing company headquartered in Moscow, Russia. The company designs and manufactures civil and military helicopters...

 JSC
Other major producers:
  • Ilyushin
    Ilyushin
    Open Joint Stock Company «Ilyushin Aviation Complex» , operating as Ilyushin or Ilyushin Design Bureau, is a Russian design bureau and aircraft manufacturer, founded by Sergey Vladimirovich Ilyushin. Ilyushin was established under the Soviet Union. Its operations began on January 13, 1933, by...

    • Voronezh Aircraft Production Association
      Voronezh Aircraft Production Association
      OJSC Voronezh aircraft production association or Voronezh Aircraft Plant is one of the largest aircraft production plants in Russia.- Overview :...

  • Irkut Corporation
    • Beriev
    • BETA AIR
    • Irkutsk Aviation Plant
    • IRKUT AviaSTEP Design Bureau
    • Russian Avionics Design Bureau
  • Mikoyan
    Mikoyan
    Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG , or RSK MiG, is a Russian joint stock company. Formerly Mikoyan-and-Gurevich Design Bureau , then simply Mikoyan, it is a military aircraft design bureau, primarily designing fighter aircraft...

  • Sokol
    Sokol design bureau
    Sokol plant is a manufacturer of MiG fighters, based in Nizhny Novgorod. It was founded n 1932 and is also known as "Aviation Plant 21", named after Sergo Ordzhonikidze. During 45 years of serial production the plant manufactured about 13,500 combat aircraft....

  • Sukhoi
    Sukhoi
    Sukhoi Company is a major Russian aircraft manufacturer, headquartered in Begovoy District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow, famous for its fighters...

    • Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association
      Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association
      Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association , based in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Russian Far East, is the largest aircraft-manufacturing company in Russia.- Overview :...

    • Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association
      Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association
      Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association named after V.P. Chkalov is one of the largest aircraft production companies in Russia.The company produces Su-34 fighter-bombers and An-38-120 regional passenger aircraft. It is also involved in the Sukhoi Superjet 100 program, where it is one of the...

  • Tupolev
    Tupolev
    Tupolev is a Russian aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Basmanny District, Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow. Known officially as Public Stock Company Tupolev, it is the successor of the Tupolev OKB or Tupolev Design Bureau headed by the Soviet aerospace engineer A.N. Tupolev...

  • Yakovlev
    Yakovlev
    The Yak Aircraft Corporation is a Russian aircraft designer and manufacturer...

  • Aviastar-SP
    Aviastar-SP
    CJSC Aviastar-SP is a Russian aircraft factory based in Ulyanovsk. It is a closed shares joint stock company. It has replaced the Soviet Ulyanovsk Aviation Industrial Complex and manufactures the cargo aircraft An-124 Ruslan and the whole Tu-204 family...

  • Kazan Aircraft Production Association
    Kazan Aircraft Production Association
    Kazan Aircraft Production Association is an aircraft manufacturer based in Kazan, Russia.-Overview:KAPO currently produces Tu-214 passenger planes and Tu-160 strategic bombers. There are also plans to start producing Tu-334 regional airliners and Tu-330 freighters.The company was established in...

  • Kamov
    Kamov
    Kamov is a Russian rotor-winged aircraft manufacturing company that was founded by Nikolai Il'yich Kamov, who started building his first rotor-winged aircraft in 1929, together with N. K. Skrzhinskii...

  • Kazan Helicopter Plant
    Kazan Helicopter Plant
    Kazan Helicopters, Joint Stock Company is a Russian helicopter manufacturing company based at Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan. It is one of the largest helicopter manufacturers in the world....

  • Mil Helicopters
  • Rostvertol
    Rostvertol
    Rostvertol is a Russian helicopter manufacturing company located in Rostov-on-Don. It was founded on 1st of July 1939. Rostvertol is the only helicopter manufacturing company in Russia not controlled by the government.It produces Мi-26T, Mi-24 and Mi-28N....

  • Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant
    Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant
    Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant is a Russian joint-stock company specializing in aircraft manufacturing. It is based in Ulan-Ude, Buryatia.- Overview :...

  • Aviakor
    Aviakor
    OJSC Aviakor is an aviation plant located in Samara. It is part of the Russian machines holding under control of the financial industrial group Basic Element owned by Oleg Deripaska. In USSR Kuibyshev aviation plant was one of the five largest plants in the aviation industry. For more than half...



    Myasishchev
    Myasishchev
    V. M. Myasishchev Experimental Design Bureau or OKB-23, founded in 1951 by Vladimir Myasishchev) was one of the chief Soviet aerospace design bureaus until its dissolution in 1960. Vladimir Myasishchev went on to head TsAGI...



    Technoavia
    Technoavia
    SCF Technoavia, or Scientific Commercial Firm Technoavia, is a Russian aircraft manufacturer. It was established in 1991 by Vyacheslav Kondratiev.- Production aircraft :* Intracom GM-17 «Viper» * Technoavia SM92 Finist ** SM-92T ** SMG-92...



    Production

    Civilian aircraft production

    Civilian fixed-wing aircraft deliveries by Russian companies 2005–2010
    Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
    An-140 1 1 1
    An-148 2 4
    An-38 1
    Il-96 family 1 2 2 2 4
    Tu-154M 1 1 1
    Tu-204 family 3 3 3 6 5 2
    Tu-214 1 2 1 3 1
    Total 6 9 8 9 15 7
    Sources:

    Military aircraft

    On the military segment, companies belonging to UAC delivered 84 new aircraft and knockdown kits. Over 60 aircraft were modernized or underwent overhaul.

    Helicopters

    In 2009 the Russian aircraft industry produced 141 helicopters, including 1 Mi-26, 130 Mi-8
    Mil Mi-8
    The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....

    /Mi-17
    MI-17
    MI-17 can refer to:* Mil Mi-17, Soviet helicopter*M-17...

    , 4 Ka-226 and 6 Ansat-U trainers. The figure does not include attack helicopters. Taking these into account, it has been estimated that the total number of produced rotorcraft was about the same as in 2008, when the figure was 169.

    Revenue

    The aircraft industry's revenue from sales in 2008 was 226.6 billion rubles (105.3 billion for UAC), and the export share was 29% (52.5% for UAC).

    Economic significance

    Russia's aircraft industry is one of the backbone branches of the country's economy. It is one of the most science-intensive hi-tech sectors and employs the largest number of skilled personnel. The production and value of the military aircraft branch far outstrips other defense industry
    Defense industry of Russia
    The Defense industry of Russia is a strategically important sector and a large employer. It is also a significant player in the global arms market...

     sectors, and aircraft products make up more than half of the country's arms exports.

    Employment

    In 2008, the number of personnel estimated to be working for the aircraft industry was 355,300. The United Aircraft Corporation holding, which encompasses most of the industry's key companies, had 97,500 employees in 2009. Of this amount, 85,500 worked in production at factories, 11,100 worked in the design bureaus and 900 in management and leasing companies. The average age of UAC personnel working in production was 44 years, and 49 for the personnel working in the design bureaus. The ratio of higher education graduates was 34%.

    See also

    • List of Russian aerospace engineers
    • Space industry of Russia
      Space industry of Russia
      Space industry of Russia consists of over 100 companies and employs 250,000 people. Most of Russia's space industry companies are descendants of Soviet design bureuas and state production companies. The industry entered a deep crisis after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which peaked in the...

    • TsAGI
      TsAGI
      TsAGI is a transliteration of the Russian abbreviation for Центра́льный аэрогидродинами́ческий институ́т or "Tsentralniy Aerogidrodinamicheskiy Institut", the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute....

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