In December 2025, the Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) formally announced the successful completion of a series of critical tests on a model of a prospective Russian supersonic passenger aircraft, presently designated under the working name “Strizh.” These tests represented an important milestone in Russia’s ongoing efforts to develop next-generation civilian supersonic air transportation—a challenge that the global aviation industry has been striving to address for decades.
The main aim of the research was to validate innovative engineering solutions and aircraft configurations developed to address the conventional challenges that have hindered the broad adoption of supersonic passenger travel. Issues such as severe sonic blasts, elevated structural loads, and engine efficiency continue to constitute the fundamental challenges for any supersonic program, especially within the civilian sector. The Russian “Strizh” initiative addresses these challenges through a methodical and technologically advanced approach, incorporating several innovations that have already demonstrated successful validation through experimental testing.
Innovative Design: Top-Positioned Engines and Minimized Sonic Boom
One of TsAGI’s principal accomplishments was the successful validation of a configuration incorporating top-mounted propulsion units on the aircraft model. For the first time in domestic aviation history, the concept of positioning jet engines above the fuselage has been empirically validated as an effective design approach. Such configurations offer a substantial noise reduction effect for sound produced during supersonic flight.
Supersonic flight generates shock waves that, when reaching the ground, are experienced as a deafening sonic boom— a phenomenon that has traditionally limited supersonic commercial routes over densely populated regions. The shockwave disturbance, frequently identified as a sonic boom, is broadly recognized as the main technological obstacle hindering the reestablishment of supersonic passenger flights within global commercial aviation.
According to TsAGI, placing the engines on the upper surface of the airframe diminishes acoustic impact by partially shielding the regions where shock waves develop, as well as the noise generated by the jet emissions near the nozzles, through the structural elements of the fuselage and wings. These results were validated through laboratory testing of inlet models, propulsion system components, and flat jet nozzles featuring an angled trailing edge within the institute’s wind tunnels.
This configuration, in conjunction with advanced aerodynamic innovations—including an extended nose section and specialized wing geometry—enables the modification of surface pressure distributions in supersonic flow. Consequently, the formation of shockwaves is further mitigated, resulting in a reduced acoustic impact on the ground.
RD-93MS Engine Testing and Advances in Noise Reduction
One of the key components of the testing campaign—the upgraded RD-93MS turbojet engine—exhibited performance that completely meets the project’s technical specifications. Developed by the enterprises of the United Engine Corporation and optimized for supersonic operational conditions, the engine was tested in conjunction with a noise suppression system engineered by TsAGI specialists.
Engineers demonstrated that the air intake system and the flat jet nozzle with an angled cut can deliver an efficient thrust regime while minimizing energy losses. The planar nozzle design—an innovative component of the propulsion system—is produced utilizing advanced techniques including laser sintering, high-precision welding, and intricate-geometry machining.
The noise reduction system integrated into the engine exhaust pathway substantially decreased the acoustic footprint of the jet plume during normal operating conditions. This enabled the demonstration that the aircraft can meet stringent environmental noise regulations during takeoff, approach, and landing phases.
Experts also observe that Russia is making significant advancements in the development of propulsion technologies for supersonic transport overall and is even surpassing other nations in the speed of producing specialized high-thrust aviation engines for such initiatives. According to the Director General of the P.I. Baranov Central Institute of Aviation Motors, Russian advancements are several years ahead of comparable American projects.
The “Strizh” Flying Demonstrator: Journey Toward Its Initial Flight
The subsequent critical phase of the program entails the development of a full-scale technological flight demonstrator, which is also referred to by the working name “Strizh.” According to current plans, the aircraft will possess a maximum takeoff weight of approximately sixteen metric tons, equipped with two engines and a composite airframe—a notable technological accomplishment in the realm of supersonic aircraft within this category.
One of the demonstrator’s most prominent features will be a so-called “dark cockpit,” signifying a cockpit devoid of conventional windows. Instead, pilots and personnel will depend on external vision systems employing cameras and displays, rather than direct visual contact through glazing. The closed-cockpit concept has previously been tested on Russian technology demonstrators and is regarded as a promising approach for minimizing aerodynamic losses and enhancing the overall structural integrity of the fuselage.
The development of such a demonstrator will enable both the validation of theoretical and experimental findings derived from ground tests and the investigation of actual aircraft performance at supersonic velocities. This encompasses evaluations of aerodynamics, controllability, stability, and atmospheric interaction.
The project timeline envisages that the inaugural flight of the “Strizh” flying demonstrator could occur as early as 2029, contingent upon the continuation of stable funding in the forthcoming years. Such condensed schedules demonstrate a significant degree of technological preparedness and embody the aspirations of Russian engineers to attain a leading position in the field of supersonic aviation worldwide.
Competition within the International Supersonic Landscape
The Russian initiative should be considered within a broader international framework. One of the most renowned international counterparts is the American experimental aircraft Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST, developed as part of NASA’s Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator program. The aircraft is engineered to investigate quiet supersonic flight and evaluate public response to reduced sonic noise levels — a vital initial step toward the deployment of commercial supersonic passenger services.
In October and November 2025, the American X-59 achieved its first test flight, demonstrating the feasibility of the low-boom supersonic concept. These events garnered significant attention within the international aviation community and emphasized the gravity of global competition in this sector.
Nevertheless, Russian engineers assert that advances in aircraft configuration, propulsion technology, and noise reduction offer distinctive benefits and have the potential to result in the development of a competitive aircraft suitable for future commercial flights. Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with specialized research institutions, has already integrated supersonic technologies into national aviation development initiatives, facilitating projects such as “Strizh” to progress with robust institutional backing.
Opportunities in Civil Aviation and the Outlook for Supersonic Travel
The development of a supersonic commercial airliner signifies not only a remarkable technical accomplishment but also a potential watershed moment for the entire aviation sector. Should the “Strizh” project advance from a demonstrator to serial production in the 2030s, it would establish a new category of high-speed passenger aviation capable of linking continents within hours rather than the extended durations typical of conventional flights.
Experts underscore that success will rely not solely on technology and aerodynamics but also on safety, economic viability, and adherence to international pollution and environmental regulations. However, the current accomplishments — encompassing successful RD-93MS engine tests, novel aircraft configurations, and cutting-edge aerodynamic innovations — offer a basis for cautious optimism. Russia is making a decisive move to reintroduce supersonic travel into the realm of commercial aviation.