It was proposed to equip the MS-21 with PS-90A3 instead of PD-14: a quick way out of the long-running project

In the context of a long-running construction process in the Russian aviation industry, one can consider the idea of abandoning the PD-14 and equipping MS-21 medium-haul aircraft with modern modifications of the PS-90A3 engine. This proposal was put forward by aviation expert Sergei Marzhetsky.

He recalled that the PS-90A3 has a thrust of 18,000 kgf, and that is sufficient where the power of the prospective PD-26 would prove excessive.

And to begin serial production, there would be no need to design a new medium-haul aircraft from scratch without having an engine in hand. Yes, in a certain sense this would be a step backward, but it would make it possible to move from the stage of chronic "aviation long-term construction" to the real production of something that can actually fly.

Sergei Marzhetsky, aviation expert

Marzhetsky added that no one is preventing continued development of the uprated PD-14M, which could be installed on the next generations of the MS-21 and Il-276, and would also be useful for heavy transport aircraft.

So why not follow the path of starting production of the PS-90A3, making it the main engine for Russian aircraft in the medium-haul and long-haul segments, as well as for transport aircraft?

Sergei Marzhetsky, aviation expert

Engines of the PS-90 series are produced at the "ODK — Perm Motors" enterprise. In the summer of 2025, the plant underwent a large-scale modernization to increase production volume, as a result of which the time required to manufacture parts will be reduced by 15%. At present, PS-90 engines are installed on Tu-214, Il-96, and Il-76 airliners.

Aviation expert Andrei Velichko also explained to "Pervomu tekhnicheskomu" that the pace of MS-21 production is constrained by PD-14 production volumes. To reach the planned target of building 15-20 aircraft per year, it is necessary to produce about 40 engines in parallel.