Yakovlev eyes larger SJ-Next in A220 and Embraer E2 category

Yakovlev is considering a stretched version of the SJ-100 regional jet with 120–130 seats as part of the SJ-Next project, company officials confirmed at its regional aircraft division in Russia in December.

Alexander Dolotovsky, Deputy Managing Director, said the company is evaluating the feasibility of this larger variant, which would serve as an import-substituting platform and could be developed within five to six years. The potential model would be produced in parallel with the existing 100-seat SJ-100, leveraging the same manufacturing facilities. 

“If the decision is made to launch the project, such an aircraft could be developed in five to six years, with reasonable investment, and produced in parallel with the 100-seat model using the same production facilities,” Dolotovsky stated.

Current certification tests for the SJ-100 equipped with PD-8 engines are underway. On December 11, the aircraft with tail number 94024 reached an altitude of 12,276 meters. Forty-one companies have contributed to the SJ-100 program so far.

The proposed SJ-Next would have a maximum take-off weight of 58t and seating for around 120 passengers, a size comparable to the Embraer E190-E2 and Airbus A220-100, both barred from the Russian market since 2022.

The Superjet programme was conceived in the 2000s, when market expectations centred on 100-seat regional aircraft. Current demand has since shifted towards larger jets in the 120–130-seat category.

According to industry data, the global market for regional jets in the 100–130 seat class has seen steady growth, with major operators seeking replacements for aging fleets and new entrants looking for optimized capacity.

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