The Russian state corporation Rostec has formally announced its intention to secure a type certificate for the new PD-35 aircraft engine within a period of two to three years. This statement was made on December 25, 2025, by Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov, who defined this timeframe as the minimum duration required to secure the document necessary to facilitate the beginning of serial production of the powerplant for wide-body aircraft.
A type certificate is a basic document in civil aviation. It is issued once to the engine manufacturer and confirms that the standard design of the product conforms to all safety and airworthiness regulations. Once the certificate is acquired, mass production can start without the necessity of recertifying each engine design individually, thereby considerably streamlining and expediting the industrial manufacturing process.
The PD-35 engine is positioned as the main platform for an upcoming family of high-bypass turbofan engines with thrust capabilities of up to thirty-eight metric tons. It is designed to represent a significant advancement for the Russian aviation sector, especially within the long-haul wide-body aircraft market.
Project Background: From Initial Concept to Preliminary Testing
The development of the PD-35 has been ongoing since 2016, initiated to meet the requirement for a domestically manufactured high-thrust engine capable of superseding aging or import-dependent alternatives. The PD-35 is built upon an expanded gas turbine framework derived from the PD-14 engine, which is designed for the MC-21 narrow-body aircraft. The compressor system was expanded, and the overall design was updated with modern materials and manufacturing technologies, including composites and additive manufacturing.
The engine is under development by UEC-Aviadvigatel and UEC-Perm Motors, companies that are subsidiaries of the United Engine Corporation within Rostec. Initial testing of the gas generator commenced early in the program, and the first demonstrator successfully passed bench tests, verifying thrust levels within the thirty-five-ton class.
In 2024, the PD-35 demonstrator finished its initial testing phase on a purpose-built outdoor test stand near Perm, tailored to accommodate engines with thrust capacities spanning from twenty-four to fifty tons. This facility is distinctive not only within Russia but also across Europe and several Asian nations, highlighting the magnitude and intricacy of the challenge confronting Russian engine engineers.
Technological Attributes and Advancements
The PD-35 is being engineered using advanced materials and modern engineering techniques. One of the most significant accomplishments is the development of a composite fan blade, wholly engineered by Russian experts. According to UEC executives, this material signifies an important development in polymer technology, providing high strength while decreasing overall engine weight without sacrificing reliability.
The engine is also engineered to integrate a full-authority digital engine control system, or FADEC, which offers real-time monitoring and diagnostics, ensuring optimal engine performance throughout all flight conditions. Such systems constitute a fundamental component of contemporary aircraft engines, enhancing fuel efficiency and ensuring operational safety.
Furthermore, the project uses additive manufacturing, or three-dimensional printing, extensively for the fabrication of intricate components. These technologies enable engineers to manufacture complex components while minimizing material waste and decreasing production durations, benefits that will extend beyond the PD-35 to other engines within the same family.
Assessment of Testing Status and Current Progress
Currently, the PD-35 is in the process of bench testing its compressor and high-pressure turbine, a vital phase in the development of any large turbofan engine. The successful completion of these tests verifies the technical maturity of the design and enables engineers to identify and address potential issues before to the start of full-scale certification trials.
Extensive engine-level testing is expected to continue in the coming years, following which formal documentation for type certification can be submitted. However, Rostec representatives highlight that certification timelines are contingent upon various factors, including the successful completion of all testing phases and coordination with civil aviation regulatory authorities.
Certification: Its Purpose and Importance
A type certificate signifies formal recognition that an engine is suitable for use on civil aircraft. It affirms adherence to the established standards of safety, reliability, and efficiency. Only upon obtaining this certificate can an engine generally commence serial production and be deployed for commercial service.
Rostec estimates that a minimum of two to three years is necessary to complete the certification procedure, assuming the testing program progresses as scheduled. Sergey Chemezov emphasized that this estimate reflects a best-case scenario and that actual circumstances may prolong the timeline depending on technical or administrative considerations.
Potential Applications: Civil and Military Aviation
One of the principal applications anticipated for the PD-35 is in long-haul wide-body aircraft, such as the Il-96-400M. Russian aircraft manufacturers contend that owning a domestically produced high-thrust engine will facilitate the revival and expansion of wide-body aircraft manufacturing, markedly decreasing dependence on foreign suppliers.
Officials at the Ministry of Industry and Trade have also indicated that technological solutions developed for the PD-35 may subsequently be used for the design of an engine for a new long-range passenger aircraft, although no official information has been disclosed concerning the initiation of such an aircraft program.
Beyond civil aviation, the PD-35 platform has the potential for military transport aviation and other large aircraft. The prospect of integrating the engine into upcoming heavy transport platforms is considered a component of Russia’s comprehensive strategy to attain technological self-reliance in the aviation sector.
Obstacles and Limitations
Despite continuous progress, the PD-35 project encounters many obstacles. Creating an engine of this magnitude is an exceedingly intricate and resource-intensive task, necessitating comprehensive testing, prolonged development periods, and continuous financial commitment. Analysts observe that the schedules were previously prolonged owing to the necessity of prioritizing other engine programs, such as the PD-14, PD-8, and PS-90A.
Another limiting factor is the absence of a domestically manufactured wide-body aircraft in full serial production, which constrains immediate commercial demand for the PD-35 and presents additional economic hazards to the program.
Conclusion: The Strategic Significance of the PD-35
The PD-35 represents one of the most ambitious technological efforts in the modern history of Russian aircraft engine development. If certification is attained within the anticipated timeframe and the engine proceeds to serial production, it will constitute an important achievement for the national aviation industry.
The project strengthens Russia’s technological sovereignty, broadens its domestic portfolio of high-thrust aircraft engines, and may ultimately facilitate the development of competitive wide-body aircraft capable of servicing international long-haul routes.