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Leaked Files Reveal How Sanctions Are Grounding Russia’s Jet Industry
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Leaked internal records from Russian enterprises show that sanctions are severely undermining the country’s aircraft production capacity, according to the volunteer intelligence community InformNapalm on September 24.
The leaked files include a “Diagnostics Report on Gear-Shaping Equipment,” dated September 24, 2024, from a Russian company working with JSC Yakovlev, part of the United Aircraft Corporation.
Yakovlev, formerly known as Irkut until July 2023, is responsible for the design of the MC-21 and SJ-100 aircraft.
Both projects have been promoted by the Kremlin as symbols of technological independence following sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, and other partners. The documents, however, point to ongoing reliance on outdated machinery and failed attempts to replace Western technology.
Gear-shaping machines are essential for producing gear systems used in aircraft engines and transmissions. The diagnostic report found that most of the equipment in use dates back to 1972 Soviet production and has exceeded its service life.
Attempts to acquire modern German machines, including MHD systems, have been blocked by sanctions.
The report also notes that alternative supplies from China and CIS states failed to meet quality standards. Russian-made substitutes from Saratov were described as defective, and several imported models such as the Liebherr LS122, ZS-200CNC, and ZS-360CNC were never operational due to malfunctions.
“Gear-shaping remains a critical bottleneck in the production of gear systems for the aviation industry,” the report states.
Commissioning of new machines has been delayed until between October 2024 and March 2025, creating setbacks for the MC-21 and SJ-100 programs. Factories plan to extend operations to two or three shifts to compensate, though this increases risks of equipment failure and reduced quality.
The leaked material underscores the impact of Western restrictions on Russia’s defense sector. Delivery times for advanced machines have stretched beyond 15 months, and financing options have been cut off due to sanctions compliance by banks.
Costs for new equipment have also risen sharply. Efforts to produce competitive domestic alternatives have not been successful.
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According to InformNapalm, these findings demonstrate that sanctions directly undermine Russia’s military-industrial capacity. Despite official claims of self-reliance, Moscow’s aviation projects remain dependent on foreign technologies and constrained by equipment shortages.
InformNapalm stated that it will continue releasing further documents from the same dataset to provide transparency on the state of Russia’s defense industry and to challenge official narratives.
Earlier, Reuters reported on August 8 that Russia’s aircraft industry delivered just one of 15 planned jets in 2025, as sanctions blocked access to foreign parts and high interest rates stalled investment. Production targets have been repeatedly cut, and serial output of the MC-21, SJ-100, and IL-114 has been postponed until 2026.
