Engines
Russia’s powerplant makers showing newfound ambition
Russia’s aircraft engine manufacturers are trying to make up ground lost to Western rivals through a comprehensive process of consolidation and restructuri

Russia’s aircraft engine manufacturers are trying to make up ground lost to Western rivals through a comprehensive process of consolidation and restructuring. The success of this change will have an impact not just on the companies themselves, but also on the ambitious new aircraft programs being prepared under the auspices of the new United Aircraft Manufacturing Corp. (OAK) for which new-generation engines are required. Another priority is to improve the industry’s patchy record for product and customer support.

Today some 40 Russian firms are involved in the aircraft powerplant business, but only about seven of them build complete engines. By some estimates, the leading Western manufacturers sell about 15 times as many engines globally as their Russian counterparts.