Russia’s UAC tests Sberbank’s GigaChat AI model in early aircraft design

The project remains experimental, and UAC has not identified the aircraft involved, TechRadar reported. GigaChat, a large language model developed by Russia’s largest bank, is being used to examine possible configurations before detailed engineering begins. Engineers could eventually apply the technology to structural strength assessments and aerodynamic computations, though those capabilities are beyond the scope of the initial experiment.

The proposed applications do not replace conventional engineering methods, according to the report. They involve examining multiple configurations and processing information that would otherwise require extensive analysis.

UAC builds Russia’s Su-57 and Su-35 combat aircraft and the MC-21 passenger jet, which is undergoing extensive component substitution. The company has not disclosed whether GigaChat contributes to either fighter program or whether its experimental aircraft has military applications. UAC general designer Sergey Korotkov supported exploring AI tools where practical engineering requirements justify introducing additional computational tools. “Digital technology makes it possible to take a larger sample and understand a problem more deeply,” specialists at United Aircraft Corporation said. The manufacturer said AI adoption must remain selective, with individual engineering requirements determining whether particular applications are worthwhile.

The experiment comes as Russia’s aerospace industry faces Western technology restrictions. After the war between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022, major engineering software suppliers including Dassault Systèmes, Siemens and Autodesk withdrew operations, disrupting access to platforms that had supported Russian aviation manufacturers for decades.

To reduce dependence on those suppliers, UAC introduced locally developed alternatives across about 4,000 engineering computers at its aircraft design facilities and replaced nine essential modules responsible for managing aircraft development information through production and maintenance stages. In a recent update, UAC said digital methods had reduced certain calculations involving hydraulic systems and cabin temperatures considerably. Tasks that previously took several months could be completed within days, according to UAC, but independent verification of the improvements remains unavailable.

Russia’s MC-21 passenger aircraft continues to face development setbacks as engineers replace imported equipment with domestically manufactured components. President Vladimir Putin admitted in June that the programme had slipped by almost two years, with problems involving the wing accounting for part of the delay. First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov has since set late 2027 as the expected certification date for a version using only Russian components.

Editor's Summary

UAC is experimenting with Sberbank’s GigaChat model for early-stage aircraft design, though no project, timetable or military application has been identified. The effort is part of a broader shift to domestic engineering software after Western vendors withdrew following the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine in 2022. UAC claims faster calculations, but those improvements have not been independently verified, and the MC-21 remains delayed.