Rostec tests Russian glazing for MS-21

The Obninsk Research and Production Enterprise "Technology" named after A.G. Romashin of the Rostec State Corporation successfully tested the strength of the new glazing of the MS-21 cockpit. The completely Russian product withstood a bird strike at a speed of over 600 km/h. This is one of the stages of additional certification of the aircraft.

The windshield of the MS-21 cockpit is a semiplex - four silicate glasses glued with a polymer film. It has an electric heating function. Thanks to this, the glazing does not fog up when the temperature changes and always retains high optical properties.

The product is also highly durable. For this, ion-exchange hardening technology of silicate glass is used. It allows creating glazing with complex geometry, which is six to eight times stronger than usual. Thanks to this, the cockpit can withstand a possible encounter with birds in the air, which increases flight safety.

"During the tests, the structural optics product was installed in its standard location - in the nose of the fuselage. The tests fully confirmed the calculated characteristics. Similar products that provide protection and a comfortable view from the cockpit are also installed on another domestic airliner - the SJ-100. The production volumes of Russian passenger aircraft will increase. Therefore, by 2028, we plan to increase the supply of glazing for Superjets by 2.5 times, for MS-21 - more than 11 times," said Andrey Silkin, General Director of ONPP Tekhnologiya.

Additional certification tests are due to the replacement of imported components of the airliner with products from domestic manufacturers. Since 2019, Tekhnologiya has conducted more than 20 types of tests of the new glazing: for strength, tightness, exposure to high and low temperatures, lightning, static electricity, and others.

Source: Rostec