Tests last February

The first tests of the engine were conducted in February at the airfield of the Scientific Research Institute of Aviation "Chaplygine" in Novosibirsk. The tests were conducted on the runway to check the proper functioning of the aircraft's systems, according to Vladimir Barssouk, director of the Institute.

679 hp

Several Russian institutes, institutions and companies are taking part in the project. In addition to the Chaplygine Institute (Russian abbreviation 'SibNIA'), the P.I. Baranov Institute of Aero-engine Construction and the National Research Centre 'Zhukovsky Institute' are participating in the development of the engine. The Advanced Research Fund FPI, the "Russian DARPA", is also involved in the project. The engine is said to have been developed by the company "SuperOks", which specialises in second-generation high-temperature superconductor technologies. According to a press release issued on 21 December by SuperOks, the motor developed by the company is a "500 kW (679 hp) high-temperature superconducting electric motor". According to its general director Sergey Samoylenkov, "The use of electric propulsion in aviation will reduce noise and fuel consumption. In the next 15 to 20 years, as technologies improve, fuel savings could reach 75%.

Target 2030

According to Denis Manturov, the Yak-40 with the electric engine will soon make a test flight. The Russian Minister of Trade and Industry also said that the first Russian civil aircraft with electric engines could appear on the market from 2030.