FutureFlight
Russians Prepare to Start Superconductor Electric Motor Flight Testing
Russia's defense research agency and superconductor specialist SuperOx say their 500 kW motor will outperform existing technology.
electrical plan
Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects and SuperOx expect to develop an HTSC-electric core that would be suitable for all-electric or hybrid-electric powerplants for a variety of existing fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as for new generation eVTOL designs.

The Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects (RFARP) expects to be ready to start flight testing an aircraft powered by an electric motor using superconductor materials by 2021. According to deputy director general Vitaly Davydov, the state-backed defense research agency is working jointly with superconductor developer SuperOx to develop an all-electric eVTOL aircraft.

The partners say the aircraft’s 500 kW motor will use high-temperature superconductors (HTSC), which significantly reduce electrical resistance to deliver power more efficiently. The motor will use as yet unspecified materials that are cooled by liquid nitrogen.