- Russian Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) providers have managed to repair only 20% of imported part numbers for the Superjet 100, according to the aircraft's manufacturer Yakovlev.
- Domestic replacements for certain parts like hydraulic tanks and weather radars have been successful, while contracts for repairing additional components are still pending.
- Rossiya Airlines, the largest operator of the Superjet 100, has only fitted Russian tires on 55 of its 78 aircraft, highlighting the ongoing challenges in localizing maintenance.
Progress and Challenges in Superjet 100 Component Repairs
MOSCOW — In the wake of sanctions imposed by Western countries, Russian Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) providers have been facing significant challenges. According to a representative of the Superjet 100’s manufacturer, Yakovlev, during a recent roundtable with Russian lawmakers, these providers have only managed to repair about 20% of the imported part numbers for the regional jets. Following the cessation of support from foreign suppliers in 2022, local companies have succeeded in repairing just 178 out of 903 imported part numbers for the aircraft.
Yakovlev has revealed some successes in this endeavor. Domestic repairs of the Superjet’s hydraulic tanks, originally made by U.S.-based Parker, and the RD-4000 weather radar from Honeywell are now possible within Russia. Additionally, the Superjet's Michelin tires have been replaced with local products from the Barnaul-based tire manufacturer YaShZ Avia. Rubin Aviation, based in Balashikha, has begun supplying brake plates to replace components from Goodrich.
Yakovlev has revealed some successes in this endeavor. Domestic repairs of the Superjet’s hydraulic tanks, originally made by U.S.-based Parker, and the RD-4000 weather radar from Honeywell are now possible within Russia. Additionally, the Superjet's Michelin tires have been replaced with local products from the Barnaul-based tire manufacturer YaShZ Avia. Rubin Aviation, based in Balashikha, has begun supplying brake plates to replace components from Goodrich.
Potential for Further Domestic Repairs and Operational Status
Yakovlev also noted that Russian companies capable of repairing an additional 453 Superjet components have been identified. Of these, 318 have been confirmed as maintainable by these companies, though no concrete contracts have been finalized. Additionally, seven more part numbers can be serviced in countries deemed friendly to Russia.Since its inception in 2011, Yakovlev has assembled a total of 213 Superjets, with 168 remaining operational. In Russia, 145 of these aircraft are used for regular passenger services, while 19 serve government or corporate flights. Outside of Russia, only four Superjets are operational—three with the Royal Thai Air Force and one with Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee.
The extent of domestic maintenance achievements for the Superjet fleet remains to be fully assessed. Rossiya Airlines, the largest operator of the type, informed Aviation Daily that it has only equipped 55 of its 78 Superjets with Russian-made tires, not yet confirming the use of locally manufactured brake plates. Despite these challenges, the Superjet fleet recorded its highest total flight time in 2022, amounting to over 254,000 hours. However, the monthly flight utilization rate of these aircraft began to decline in the third quarter of 2023, reflecting the ongoing difficulties faced by Russian airlines in maintaining and operating the Superjet 100s under the current geopolitical circumstances.
