The future MC-21 airplane will fly using Russian instruments

Source: Alexey Kudenko / RIA Novosti

The Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern (RETC), part of the Rostec State Corporation, for the first time presented samples of an avionics systems complex for MC-21 airplane. As part of the policy of import substitution in civil aviation, the aircraft MC-21 and SSJ-100 will be used to replace foreign imports. According to the company, the share of Russian-made airborne avionics will almost double – from the current 48% to 80% by the end of 2015.

“For the MC-21, we have already prepared proposals for the replacement of equipment by such major international corporations as Thales, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, etc.,” Nikolay Kolesov, general director of RETC, told reporters.

In 2013, the RETC was selected as the developer and manufacturer of prototypes of devices for an integrated onboard avionics complex, based on integrated modular avionics (IKBO-IMA). This contract was worth 2.33 billion rubles. Series production and delivery of the developed equipment is planned for 2016.

The integrated onboard avionics complex for the MC-21 and SSJ-100 includes the functions and regimes of navigation, piloting, signaling, display, control of general aircraft equipment, etc. In addition, they will install Russian video surveillance systems, landing, weather radar, communications, an electronic tablet for the pilot, and much more. The IKBO-IMA for MS-21 will be completely Russian-made, except for the navigation components and the communications complex.

The components are now undergoing testing. In the future, the IKBO-IMA could be adapted for other types and models of domestic aircraft, including the Be-200, IL-96-300, as well as a new generation of SSJ. In addition, they are working on creating similar avionics systems for helicopters.

This onboard complex still needs to undergo certification by the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The developers reported that the complex will undergo certification not only as part of the aircraft, but as a separate unit, “so that it can be promoted as a separate product”.

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