Moscow. 12 June 2021. June 12 is celebrated one of the “youngest” holidays in the country – Day of Russia. From this date, since 1992, the formation of a new Russian statehood has been counted. At the same time, the process of the formation of the aviation industry in Russia started, associated with the rupture of existing cooperation ties, the formation of new partnerships and the acquisition of their own competencies. The MAKS air shows, held since 1993, and their predecessor, Mosaeroshow-92, clearly show how Soviet developments are being replaced by aircraft, helicopters, engines and systems entirely created in modern Russia.
When the USSR with its inherent traditions of a major aircraft-building power collapsed, there was a real threat of losing the industry, which was an important factor in national security, a source of national income, a sphere of highly qualified employment, a symbol of a scientifically and technologically advanced country. Large aircraft-building enterprises turned out to be outside Russia. The preservation and development of the national aviation industry was immediately declared a state priority in independent Russia – the industry was to become a locomotive for high-tech development of the country’s economy.
However, the transition turned out to be the hardest process. The economic crisis that hit the new Russia could not but affect the aviation industry. Many scientific schools were destroyed, entire design groups were lost, the continuity of generations of aircraft manufacturers disappeared. In the 2000s, the civil aviation market was practically neglected: the fleets of airlines were flooded with aircraft of foreign manufacturers. The aviation industry, especially in its civilian segment, was in a deep systemic crisis.
Having crossed the turn of the century, the aviation industry was able to stop the decline and set a course for the restoration of production and the creation of new types of technology. This was facilitated by the overall growth of the economy and the associated possibility of increasing the budgetary financing of the industry. The first decade of the new century was spent on resuming the ability to develop and mass-produce the main types of civil and military aviation equipment, including the most important nomenclature of materials and components for airplanes and helicopters. Projects have been launched aimed at creating military transport aircraft. In parallel with the transition to digital design methods, large-scale technological re-equipment and the introduction of new assembly technologies were carried out at the leading factories of the industry. The creation of the UAC and UEC, the Russian Helicopters holding, the corporation “
The next decade brought the Russian aviation industry much closer to its challenge: to create products that can compete on world markets. The story continues, it is happening before our eyes. Today, MAKS aerospace shows exhibit aircraft, components, aircraft weapons, completely developed from scratch already in modern Russia. Take a look at MAKS-2021 for the main novelties and premieres of the salon: the short-haul passenger airliner MS-21-310 with the Russian PD-14 engine, the regional turboprop Il-114-300, the light-engine aircraft LMS-901 “Baikal”, the next versions of the SSJ100 aircraft, the modernized fire-fighting helicopter Ka-32A11M. We are also looking forward to the demonstration of the newest PD-14, TV7-117ST-01 engines, the premiere of the PD-8 and PD-35 engine families, engines for helicopters VK-1600V and VK-650V, display of engines for combat aircraft. And, as always, we are waiting for the unique flight program of the MAKS air show, demonstrating the best examples of domestic military and civil aviation equipment.
Happy Russia Day!
