The US is trying to ground Russian aircraft
New clarifications of US sanctions, which will come into force on December 23, may affect the implementation of Russian projects of civil aircraft SSJ 100 and MC-21, since both projects use American avionics, which will now require approval from the US Department of Commerce.
Kommersant writes about this, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Thus, according to the new amendments, the exceptions that previously allowed American companies to supply a wide range of goods for civilian use to Russia without obtaining a special license for this are abolished.
Previously, it was assumed that the main engine of the MS-21 aircraft would be the American PW1400G, but UEC has already replaced it in the form of the PD-14, with which the MS-21 carried out its first flight on December 15.
In addition, the head of Aviaport, Oleg Panteleev, notes that there is still more than a year left before the start of deliveries of the MC-21, which makes it possible to replace individual equipment. But the expert admits supply failures in some systems. As for helicopter manufacturing, he considers the risks to be minimal: the most popular helicopters of the Mi family have the vast majority of components of domestic origin.
According to him, the SSJ 100 aircraft may suffer more, since the manufacturer is currently fulfilling large contracts for the supply of these aircraft, the expert adds.
“If we take a Superjet, then in its original form there are about 60–70% of foreign components. There, in general, there is only our frame. The engines are French, the avionics are American,” the publication quotes former Sukhoi Design Bureau designer Vadim Lukashevich as saying.
In turn, Panteleev says that it is now impossible to say unequivocally that the restrictions will lead to a cessation of supplies of American components, but calls on domestic aircraft manufacturers to be prepared for the fact that American suppliers will not be able to fulfill their obligations under contracts or will not meet the deadlines.
The US is trying to ground Russian aircraft.