Aircraft Plants Shift to Digital Design and Manufacturing Technologies
Russian aviation facilities are adopting domestic digital tools to streamline aircraft development and production.
Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko visited the Irkutsk Aviation Plant to review how IT systems are being integrated into aircraft design and manufacturing. The facility is part of the Aviastroenie (Aviation Industry) Industrial Competence Center and participates in major sector-wide projects.
The plant uses a system developed by PAO OAK to manage aircraft development. The product is among the flagship initiatives of the competence center and is designed to replace foreign software.
Digital Aircraft Model
The plant is developing a digital model of the MS-21-310 aircraft. A single system contains all technical documentation, including design drawings and training materials for flight crews. This provides full quality control at every stage of design and production. Engineers can quickly identify bottlenecks and make necessary adjustments.
Machine Monitoring
The facility has also implemented machine monitoring systems that track equipment utilization and help prevent downtime. Maintenance is now performed based on actual equipment condition rather than fixed schedules.
AI is also used in production planning, helping calculate logistics based on the movement of parts between workshops. This enables more efficient and faster manufacturing of components.
The Irkutsk plant has effectively become a testing ground for domestic IT technologies in aviation. The experience gained can later be applied across other enterprises in the industry.
