The United States is currently withholding previously purchased Russian aircraft components, including spares for Boeing and Airbus aircraft, to the value of half a billion dollars. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is attempting to unlock their dispatch to Russia, as stated by Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov to Izvestia.
“We have roughly $500 million’s worth of aircraft parts destined for our aviation industry stuck in the US, which have already been paid for. Therefore, I think that we, as representatives of consumers, would be interested in unblocking the supply of these parts, among other things. It would be rather important,” said Anton Alikhanov.
The sanctions are having the most detrimental effect on the maintenance of airborne radio-electronic equipment and engines. For example, the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is manufactured and repaired solely by the American company Honeywell. Without spares, its repair becomes significantly more difficult, and some work is simply impossible.
Russian companies are developing their own equivalents of imported components, and Rosaviatsia (Federal Air Transport Agency) is certifying them and monitoring the continued airworthiness of aircraft. Essential consumable aircraft parts, such as brake discs, tyres, and engine components are also necessary.
Furthermore, the recognition of repair work on foreign aircraft carried out by Russian companies under sanctions, without the appropriate licensing from foreign manufacturers, is required. Anton Alikhanov stated that work is progressing on a number of issues in this area.
“For example, the recognition of repair work carried out on foreign aircraft, I’m referring to Airbus and Boeing, which has been performed by Russian companies, in the conditions of the sanctions and without the verification of the relevant licenses from the foreign manufacturers. This is also something we are interested in,” the Minister said.
Following the commencement of the Special Military Operation (SVO), the West introduced severe restrictions against Russian aviation. The US and the EU have banned Russian airlines from flying in their airspace, with exceptions only for humanitarian flights. In response, Russia closed its skies to aircraft from 36 countries, including the EU, Japan, South Korea, the US and Canada.
Washington and the EU have also halted the supply of components to Russian airlines and blocked access to spares supplied via third countries. In November 2022, the US partially eased the restrictions, allowing the maintenance of aircraft registered outside Russia. However, the main restrictions remain in place.
Negotiations between Moscow and Washington, which resumed with the arrival of the Republican administration in the US, initially appeared promising for the lifting of at least some Western sanctions. However, after another round of negotiations on 23rd March in Jeddah, the process of resolving the war in Ukraine has stalled, and President Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction with the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin and threatened new sanctions and tariffs on Russian oil.
In Russia, there’s a realistic assessment of current events and the existing interaction with the new US administration. Therefore, it is considered unlikely that a compromise will be reached on easing restrictions in the aviation sector, and it is improbable that the already paid-for spares will be delivered.
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