The Last Flight: Budget Cuts Threaten Russian Aircraft Industry's Demise

The government's decision to cut funding for the development of the aircraft industry by 30% is effectivelydestroying aviation science. The consequences of this decision were discussed by Yuri Zakharchenko, Executive Director of the RKK-Nauka professional association.

It is worth mentioning that the state program "Development of the Aviation Industry" has been affected. According to documents that have appeared online, the draft budget for 2026-2027 threatens the industry with a funding reduction of almost 40%.

Experts call this a blow to the most vital areas - research, development, and training. According to them, without science and new technologies, Russian aviation willno longer have a future.

"Superjet" as a symbol of management failure

Zakharchenko believes that the root of the systemic crisis lies not in the engineers, but in the management of the industry. According to him, the "state - government - ministry" chain has proven incapable of building an effective development model.

The specialist recalled that there are only 2% of common parts between theSuperjet and the new import-substituted MC-21-310, while the old Tupolev PJSC line had this figure up to 40%.

Science is being finished off - a personnel desert and a halt to technology

Zakharchenko believes that the main blow fell on aviation science. Reducing funding means not just cutting spending, but the actual liquidation of engineering schools.

Over the past decades, the Executive Director of the RKK-Nauka professional association added, innovative and science-intensive technologies have been introduced "very limitedly, if not at all." Now, however, the degradation is accelerating.

72.5 billion - instead of the future

According to the draft budget, the volume of funding for the state program "Development of the Aviation Industry" in 2026-2027will amount to 72.5 billion rubles - almost 40% less than the current parameters. At the same time, let us recall that back in the summer, the plans were marshalling, Rostec promised to buildabout 500 aircraft. But based on thelatest statement by the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Anton Alikhanov, they will now be adjusted.

Earlier,www1.ru reported thatnew Russian tires for the chassis of MC-21 and SJ-100 liners have successfully passed certification.

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