[News updated at 23:59 04.01.2024]
The new Russian full-size fifth-generation PD-35 turbofan engine, which has become the largest and most powerful in the history of Russian aviation, is preparing for testing. Rostec State Corporation has scheduled them for the beginning of 2024 for the prototype "Tsar Engine".
PD-35 is designed for installation on wide-body long-range airliners and military transport aircraft. It weighs about 8 tons. The diameter of the aircraft engine fan is 3.1 meters, the length is more than 8 meters, and the thrust is 35 tons. Work on the engine has been underway since 2016, and the sanctions have only spurred research: by October 2023, the first tests of the gas generator were carried out.
In conditions simulating the operation of a full-size engine, the gas generator worked perfectly. Now it's the turn of the test bench for testing the engine prototype in full form.
The Russian aviation industry is eagerly awaiting the serial production of "Tsar Engines": it is already known that they will be installed at least on An-124 Ruslan military transport aircraft and An-124-100 civilian aircraft. Until 2022, the aircraft had D-18T engines [the engines were manufactured at the Ukrainian Motor Sich plant, which was nationalized in 2022 - editor's note from www1.ru].
Updated.
Russian aviation specialists already have the task of modernizing the Antonov Design Bureau's developments. The Ruslans and An-124-100 will receive not only domestic engines, but also other parts. During a meeting with the leadership of the United Aircraft Corporation in October 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu instructed to double the repair and modernization of these aircraft by 2025. Their maintenance is carried out by the Ulyanovsk enterprise PJSC Il Aviastar.