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Russia to Boost Rocket and Aircraft Engine Production, Putin Orders Despite Sanctions
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Russian leader Vladimir Putin visited the Kuznetsov engine design bureau in Samara, Russia, calling for an acceleration of rocket and aircraft engine development, Army Recognition Group reported on September 8.
He said the goal was to meet domestic needs while remaining competitive globally, despite Western sanctions imposed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Kuznetsov has a long legacy in Russian aerospace, producing engines for strategic bombers, space launch vehicles, and rockets.
Current priorities include restarting production of heavy-lift engines for Roscosmos, supporting the Angara rocket family, and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. Russia also aims to expand exports to countries outside the Western countries.
In aviation, the PD-26 engine is under development, building on the PD-14 used in the Irkut MC-21 airliner. It is expected to support heavy transport aircraft, strategic lifters, and the Russo-Chinese CR929 program, while reducing dependence on Western manufacturers.
These developments have direct military and strategic implications. Modern rocket engines would maintain Russia’s satellite capabilities for reconnaissance, navigation, and communications, while improved aircraft engines could enhance airlift, payload, and operational flexibility.
Despite these claims, it was previously reported that during the large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine three Russian strategic bombers reportedly failed to launch their missiles due to technical problems.
Cut off from Western supply chains since 2022, Russia has framed domestic propulsion development as a matter of industrial sovereignty. Partnerships with China are also growing, particularly in aerospace and energy, according to Army Recognition Group.
Earlier, experts said that Russia’s $37M Su-57 stealth fighter was deployed incomplete amid sanctions. The Su-57, Russia’s only so-called fifth-generation fighter, has been used sparingly, with Moscow likely holding back the jet to avoid reputational damage, export setbacks, or the loss of sensitive technology if one were shot down.
