As the war in Ukraine grinds on into its fourth year and Western sanctions continue to restrict access to foreign components, Russia is accelerating domestic development of rocket and aircraft engines. The move reflects both strategic necessity and long-term ambitions for defense-industrial autonomy. Key programs include the AL-41F1 engine for Su-family fighters, the PD-series turbofans for transport aircraft, and liquid-fueled rocket engines for space launch vehicles.
Strategic Context: Sanctions Bite Into Russian Aerospace Supply Chains
Since 2014—and especially after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022—Russia has faced increasingly stringent export controls on high-tech components. These restrictions have severely impacted its aerospace sector, which historically relied on imported electronics, precision machinery, and composite materials. In response, the Kremlin has prioritized import substitution across critical defense-industrial domains.
The United Engine Corporation (UEC), a subsidiary of Rostec State Corporation responsible for gas turbine engine development in Russia, has been tasked with rapidly scaling up domestic production capabilities. According to statements by Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov in September 2025 (as reported by Russian media), Moscow is now accelerating timelines for several key propulsion programs in both military aviation and space sectors.
AL-41F1 Fighter Engine: Scaling Up Production
The AL-41F1 (izdeliye 117) is a thrust-vectoring afterburning turbofan developed by UEC-Saturn as an evolution of the Soviet-era AL-31 series. It powers advanced variants of the Su-35S multirole fighter and serves as an interim powerplant for early Su-57 Felon stealth fighters pending readiness of the next-gen izdeliye 30 engine.
Originally intended as a stopgap until full deployment of izdeliye 30—which remains delayed due to technical hurdles—the AL-41F1 has become central to sustaining Russia’s tactical aviation fleet under wartime conditions. UEC has reportedly increased monthly output rates at its Lytkarino facility to meet demand from both new-build aircraft lines and maintenance/replacement needs due to combat attrition.
Key specifications:
- Thrust class: ~14.5 tons with afterburner
- Thrust vectoring nozzles (±15° pitch/yaw)
- Digital FADEC control system
PD-Series Turbofans: Civil-Military Dual Use Under Pressure
The PD-series engines—particularly the PD-8 and PD-14—are critical to Russia’s ambitions for civil-military aviation independence. The PD-8 is designed for use on SSJ-New regional jets (a re-engined Superjet 100), while the larger PD-14 targets platforms like the Irkut MC-21 airliner and potentially military transports such as Il-series aircraft.
The PD programs are being fast-tracked not only due to sanctions-induced loss of Western engines like France’s Safran SaM146 but also because military logistics platforms need reliable domestic alternatives. The Ministry of Industry and Trade confirmed that serial production of PD-series engines is now underway at UEC-Perm Motors following successful state bench testing earlier this year.
PD-series highlights:
- PD-8 thrust class: ~8 tons; geared turbofan architecture
- PD-14 thrust class: ~14 tons; high-bypass ratio (~8.5)
- Modular design enabling MRO simplification
Nuclear-Capable Strategic Propulsion Systems Also See Renewed Focus
Moscow is also reinvesting in strategic bomber propulsion systems such as the Kuznetsov NK-series engines used on Tu-class bombers. The NK-32 Series II engine—an upgraded version powering Tu-160M Blackjack bombers—is now in limited serial production at PJSC Kuznetsov in Samara.
This effort supports both modernization of legacy strategic assets under Russia’s Long Range Aviation Command (LRA) and potential future expansion if arms control regimes continue to erode. The NK line also provides engineering continuity for possible future hypersonic-capable airframes or air-launched missile platforms requiring high-thrust turbojets or low-bypass turbofans.
Cryogenic Rocket Engines Remain a Priority Despite Roscosmos Budget Constraints
The war effort has strained federal budgets across all sectors—including Roscosmos—but liquid-fueled rocket engine development remains a protected priority area due to its dual-use relevance (military satellite launches; ICBM technology). Notably:
- The RD-series family (e.g., RD-191) continues powering Angara rockets used by both military payloads and civilian missions.
- The KVD cryogenic upper stage program—originally based on Soviet-era designs—is being revived with modernized materials compatible with long-duration burns needed for GEO insertion or deep-space missions.
Moscow also continues efforts to indigenize guidance electronics previously sourced from European suppliers—a challenge that may delay some launch schedules but aligns with broader autarky goals.
Operational Implications Across Russian Aerospace Forces
The accelerated propulsion push has direct consequences for Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) readiness levels:
- Sustained sortie generation rates despite losses in Ukraine require reliable spares pipelines—especially engines subject to high wear cycles like those on Su-family fighters or MiG interceptors.
- Aerospace transport capacity remains vital amid growing logistical demands across extended fronts—from Kaliningrad reinforcement corridors to southern theaters near Crimea.
- Strategic deterrence credibility hinges partly on long-range bomber availability—which depends heavily on timely NK-series engine upgrades or replacements.
Challenges Ahead: Materials Science Bottlenecks & Skilled Labor Gaps
Despite political will and funding prioritization, multiple constraints remain:
- Titanium alloys & heat-resistant composites: Many still rely on foreign inputs or legacy stockpiles; substitution efforts ongoing but slow-moving.
- CNC machining & additive manufacturing tools: Sanctioned Western equipment hard to replace; Chinese imports help but lag behind top-tier tolerances needed for turbine blades or compressor discs.
- Aging workforce: Skilled engineers from Soviet-era design bureaus are retiring faster than replacements can be trained; vocational pipeline reforms underway but unevenly implemented across regions.
Conclusion: Toward Contested Self-Sufficiency Under Wartime Duress
Moscow’s push toward aerospace propulsion autonomy reflects both immediate wartime imperatives and longer-term industrial strategy under isolationist conditions. While technical challenges persist—and timelines remain fluid—the scale-up of AL-series fighter engines, PD-family turbofans, NK strategic powerplants, and RD-class rocket motors signals a concerted effort toward self-sustaining MilTech capability within an increasingly contested global order.
