Superjet 1000

[Janise Knollman]

In2022, Sukhoi announced a Russified version of the body and electronics, without most of the Western components; the engines are replaced by the Aviadvigatel PD-8 model. Aeroflot has ordered 89 Irkut SSJ-Russified aircraft.[8] In August 2023, parent company Irkut rebranded itself as Yakovlev, with the Superjet to be known as the SJ-100.[9]

The Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant was selected in February 2005 for final assembly, implementing jig-less assembly, automatic component alignment and automatic riveting.The RRJ60 and RRJ75 were deemed to be less cost-effective,[10] and development was focused on the largest model, the 98-seat RRJ95. The 78-seater RRJ75 remained under consideration, and a future stretch was also envisaged.[11]The RRJ95 was renamed the Sukhoi Superjet 100 at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2005.The first order, for 30 aircraft, was signed on 7 December with Aeroflot.[10]

In June 2007, Boeing expanded its assistance to cover flight and maintenance crew training and manuals, and spare parts management and supply.[14] On 22 August, Sukhoi and Alenia Aeronautica established the SuperJet International joint venture for customer support outside Russia and Asia.[10] Alenia Aeronautica took a 25% stake in Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Corporation (SCAC) for $250 million, valuing it at $1 billion.Development costs were expected to total $1 billion, with another $1 billion needed to develop the powerplant and for customer support.[11]

The SaM146 engine was first run on 21 February 2008.[22] Tests were conducted by the Gromov Flight Research Institute, using an Ilyushin Il-76LL as a flying test bed.[23] The SuperJet 100 made its maiden flight on 19 May 2008, taking off from Komsomolsk-on-Amur.[3] By July, certification was expected for the third quarter of 2009, pushing back deliveries to later the same quarter.[24]On 24 December 2008, the second SSJ made its maiden flight.[25]

By January 2009, the first two aircraft had completed over 80 flights, and the engines had accumulated 2,300 hours of tests.[26] In April 2009, the two prototypes were flown 3,000 km (1,600 nmi) from Novosibirsk to Moscow,[27] and EASA pilots conducted a number of familiarisation flights.[28] A third prototype joined the test campaign in July 2009.[29]

The SSJ made its international debut at the 2009 Paris Air Show; during the show, Malv Hungarian Airlines placed a $1 billion order for 30 aircraft.[30]As of June 2009, 13 aircraft were under construction, with the first four scheduled to be handed over to clients from December.[31] Armenian Armavia was to receive the first two, followed by Aeroflot, having ordered 30 with an option for 15 more. Other customers include Russian Avialeasing, Swiss AMA Asset Management Advisor, and Indonesian Kartika Airlines. Sukhoi expected production to reach a rate of 70 aircraft per year by 2012.[30]

In December 2009, engine availability issues resulted in deliveries being delayed indefinitely.[32] On 4 February 2010, the fourth prototype made its maiden flight using engines removed from the first prototype, as a result of continuing delays in engine production, including NPO Saturn quality problems.[33]On 15 September 2010, static tests for certification of the aircraft were completed by TsAGI.[34]

By June 2010, certification was 90% complete but was delayed due to SaM146 engine problems that were not encountered during testing.[35]In September 2010, certification was expected for November.[36] In October 2010, noise was tested for certification authorities, Russian IAC and European EASA.[37] On 4 November 2010, the first production aircraft, intended for Armavia, was first flown.[38]By November 2010, the SSJ test fleet had made 948 flights totalling 2,245 hours.[39]

London City Airport is a major destination for Irish airline CityJet, which was to receive 15 SSJ100s, but its steep 5.5 approach required new control laws, wing flap setting and modified brakes: test flights were to begin in December 2017, with certification planned for 2018, and the modified aircraft to be available in 2019.[44] In any event, CityJet ceased all use of SSJ-100 aircraft by November of 2020.[citation needed]

A new "sabrelet" winglet, helping takeoff and landing performance and delivering 3% better fuel burn, will be standard and available for retrofit.[44]Designed with CFD tools by Sukhoi and TsAGI, the "saberlets" debuted flight tests on 21 December 2017.They should improve hot and high airport performance and cut costs up to $70,000 per year.Parts of the wing are reinforced for the aerodynamic loads distribution change.[45]They should reduce fuel costs by 4%, flight-testing was completed after over 140 flights by October 2019.[46]The first aircraft with the composite winglets was delivered to Russian carrier Severstal Aircompany in December 2019.[47]

By November 2018, the TsAGI carried out wind tunnel tests on two modified wing designs to save structural weight: one with less wing sweep and the other with more relative thickness, also enhancing aerodynamics and load capabilities, and improving fuel efficiency by nearly 10%.[48]

In May 2021, Rostec announced the completion of the first experimental core 'hot section' of the PD-8 engine.[55] The 'Russified' variant of the SSJ with the composite wing, indigenous avionics and the PD-8 engine later became known as the SSJ-New.[56][better source needed] In July 2021, UEC exhibited the new engine at the 2021 Moscow Air Show and aimed to secure type certification by 2023.[57] In January 2022, a new control system, developed by UEC for the PD-8 engine, was being tested prior to integration with the engine.[58]The full domestic fabrications plan will take place in 2023 to 2024, replacing Western components.[59][60][better source needed]

Under a plan announced in June 2022 to bring the proportion of domestically produced aircraft to 80% of the Russian fleet by the end of the decade following the international sanctions brought in after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, serial production of the SSJ-New was targeted for 2023.[61] In July 2022, a prototype SSJ-New fuselage was transported to test facilities near Moscow to undergo life cycle testing.[62] Further prototypes were assembled in 2023, with structural testing of the updated airframe and certification of the PD-8 engine both expected to be completed by the autumn. As of May 2023, serial production was expected to begin in 2024.[63]

In July 2023, Irkut announced that the entire company would be rebranded under the Yakovlev name, to be effective by the end of August, though it did not specify whether the Superjet would undergo a further change of designation.[68] The name change was confirmed in August; the Superjet is to drop the Sukhoi name and be known as the SJ-100.[9]

In March 2023, a deal was announced that would see UAC completely exit the Superjet 100 programme by selling its entire stake in SuperJet International (SJI) to an Emirati investment fund, Markab Capital Investments.[citation needed] A new factory would be built at Al Ain International Airport, Abu Dhabi, where aircraft would be assembled before completion at SJI's Venice site. The deal would be conditional on SJI's assets being unfrozen by the European Union.[69] With a new supply chain to be established in Italy by Leonardo to service the Abu Dhabi production line, and the sale of intellectual property, it is unclear how Russian production of the SSJ-New, now solely limited to servicing Russia's domestic market, could continue under the deal.[70]

The five-abreast cross-section is more optimised beyond 70 seats than the four-abreast Bombardier CRJs and Embraer E-Jets but smaller than the six-abreast Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.[11]The SSJ100 typically seats 87 to 98 passengers.[71] In Russia, it replaces the aging Tupolev Tu-134 and Yakovlev Yak-42 aircraft.[20] It competes with the Antonov An-148, Embraer E190 and the Bombardier CRJ1000. Sukhoi claims cash operational costs are lower than competitors by 8-10%, with reduced fuel burn per seat and longer maintenance intervals.[72]

Over 30 foreign partnerships are involved. The SaM146 engines are developed, manufactured and marketed by PowerJet, a joint-venture between the French Snecma and Russia's NPO Saturn. A joint venture between Alenia (later part of Leonardo S.p.A.) and Sukhoi, SuperJet International, was responsible for marketing in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Japan and Oceania, though Leonardo pulled out in early 2017 because of Superjet's poor financial performance and Sukhoi regained a 100% share in SCAC.[66] Assembly is performed at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant in the Russian Far East, while the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association produces components; both are upgrading their facilities and were expecting to produce 70 airframes by 2012.[79]

On 19 April 2011, the first production aircraft was handed over to Armavia at Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan, to be operated to Moscow and Sochi, as well as Ukrainian cities.[80] The aircraft was named after Yuri Gagarin.[81]On 21 April, the first commercial flight landed at Moscow Sheremetyevo, lasting 2 h 55 min; Armavia used the Airbus A319 on this route before switching to the Superjet 100.[82]On 1 May, it made its first commercial flight to Venice Airport in around 4 hours, it had accumulated 50 hours in 24 flights by then.[83]

On 3 June 2016, the Irish carrier CityJet was the first western European airline to take delivery of an SSJ100.[93] But CityJet had ceased all use of SSJ-100 aircraft by November of 2020.[citation needed]

On 24 December 2016, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency grounded seven jets after a tail component of an IrAero SSJ100 showed metal fatigue, leading Sukhoi to inspect the entire fleet.[94] By 27 December, all aircraft had been inspected and it had been shown that the defect was not systemic as it featured multiple redundancies and a safety margin doubling the normal loads.[95] Interjet grounded half of its fleet of SSJ100s during this period, but all of its aircraft were returned to service by the first week of January 2017 after Sukhoi sent 22 technicians to repair the grounded aircraft.[96]

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