Denied Under Sanctions, Russia Plans to 3-D Print Parts for Boeing, Airbus Aircraft

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) plans to produce parts for Boeing and Airbus aircraft which are denied to Russian airlines due to sanctions imposed in the wake of the Ukraine war.

The MIT has asked Russian air carriers and service companies to provide data on the nomenclature and number of required spare parts, Izvestia reported.

The assessment will be carried out by the MIT together with the Agency for Technological Development.

The MIT has asked to "attach" at least five original parts - they will be required for 3D scanning, studying the composition of the material and determining the strength properties of the product.

Airbus and Boeing halted the supply of aircraft parts and services to Russian airlines, following the announcement of US and EU sanctions amidst the invasion of Ukraine.

There are some 332 Boeing and 304 Airbus aircraft operating with Russian carriers- the majority of Russia’s passenger aircraft fleet. The need for spares is expected to be felt progressively as the parts reach the end of their certified life.

Russia has reportedly turned to China for spares, but was rebuffed. Chinese companies manufacture a number of critical and non-critical parts for Western origin aircraft.

Western analysts fear that Russian airline companies may cannibalise parts from working aircraft to keep the remaining part of the fleet working.

In addition to denial of parts, the delivery of 37 new Boeing and Airbus planes to Russian airlines this year has been blocked.