Russia Expands Use of Reverse Engineering to Boost Industrial Development
Rostec’s Additive Manufacturing Center is cutting development times for complex aviation and energy components by half.
Russia is actively using reverse engineering and digital technologies to produce critical industrial components. The country’s integrated approach makes it possible not only to reproduce lost parts, but also to create improved versions. As a result, the entire development cycle is shortened by 30–50%.
3D Scanning and Structural Analysis
As Rostec told IT-Russia, reverse engineering does not mean creating a product from scratch. Instead, an existing item is disassembled and studied to understand how it is designed and how it works. Based on this analysis, a proprietary version is then produced. This approach is particularly useful when technical drawings have been lost or never existed, but a physical sample is available. By carefully examining it, engineers can make an exact or even improved copy. Reverse engineering is used to replace imported components that have become unavailable for various reasons, or to eliminate dependence on foreign parts altogether.
However, this process should not be seen as significantly simpler than developing an original product. The Additive Manufacturing Center of United Engine Corporation takes a comprehensive approach. It includes 3D scanning of the object, analysis of the internal structure to accurately reproduce geometry, and determination of chemical composition, hardness, and other material characteristics. Engineers then create full design documentation, which is used to manufacture prototypes and pilot samples on 3D printers.
40 Industrial 3D Printers
Using the restoration of aircraft engine parts and energy equipment as examples, the Additive Manufacturing Center has demonstrated that reverse engineering can cut development timelines by 30–50%. The facility operates more than 40 industrial 3D printers working with aviation-grade alloys.
The expansion of reverse engineering strengthens Russia’s technological sovereignty and reduces dependence on external suppliers in strategic industries. The experience and established methods accumulated in Russia are also drawing growing interest from the global engineering community.
