Aeroflot Plans CFM56 Engine Repair Facility in Moscow

Aeroflot to Establish CFM56 Engine Repair Facility in Moscow

Aeroflot Group, Russia’s largest airline, has announced plans to build a dedicated engine repair facility at its Sheremetyevo Airport hub in Moscow. The new center will primarily focus on servicing CFM56 engines, which are extensively used across Russian commercial aviation. In addition, the facility will support maintenance for Russia’s emerging PD-8 and PD-14 engines, reflecting a broader strategy to enhance domestic aviation capabilities.

Facility Details and Operational Plans

The repair center is projected to cover approximately 28,000 square feet, with operations expected to begin in 2027 and reach full capacity by 2028. Once fully operational, the facility aims to perform up to 70 engine overhauls annually, encompassing a variety of engine models. To manage this initiative, Aeroflot has created a new independent company, AeroTrustTechnik, which will operate separately from Aeroflot Technics, the group’s existing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) division.

Strategic Context and Fleet Implications

This development is part of a wider effort to localize aircraft maintenance amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and sanctions that have limited Russian carriers’ access to foreign MRO providers. Currently, nearly 400 commercial aircraft operated in Russia are powered by CFM engines, including 196 Airbus and 194 Boeing jets. Aeroflot’s own fleet includes 52 A320s, 32 A321s, and 37 Boeing 737-800s, while its subsidiaries Pobeda and Rossiya Airlines operate additional Boeing and Airbus aircraft equipped with CFM56 engines.

Until now, S7 Technics has held a local monopoly on CFM56 engine repairs, having developed this capability in late 2022. Its sister company, Berdsk Electromechanical Plant, specializes in restoring damaged CFM56 engine blades, highlighting the limited domestic infrastructure for such maintenance prior to Aeroflot’s announcement.

Supporting Domestic Engine Technologies

Beyond servicing CFM56 engines, AeroTrustTechnik will also provide maintenance support for the PD-8 engines powering Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jets and the PD-14 engines designed for the MC-21 narrowbody airliners. These Russian-developed aircraft are expected to enter Aeroflot’s fleet starting in 2026, underscoring the airline’s commitment to integrating domestically produced aviation technologies.

Aeroflot CEO Sergey Alexandrovsky noted that over 90% of the airline’s capital investments are currently directed toward maintaining the airworthiness of its existing fleet, emphasizing the strategic priority of sustaining operational reliability amid challenging external conditions.

This initiative marks a significant milestone for Russia’s aviation industry, reinforcing efforts to increase self-sufficiency in aircraft maintenance and reduce reliance on foreign service providers in a complex geopolitical environment.