Ruski Rotax

[Kyle Communications]

Looks like the russians are trying their hand at copying the Rotax now

NAIS‑2026: UDC Unveils M105 Piston Engine for Light Aircraft – RuAviation

RUAVIA.SU

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Against this backdrop, United Engine Corporation (UDC) unveiled the new M105 piston engine at NAIS‑2026. The public demonstration signals the transition from

 

[onetrack]

Would this be the engine powering the Russian-built Shahed drones being used against Ukraine?

The Ukrainians are saying that the Russian Shaheds they've managed to down fairly intact, and where they've been able to examine the engines, that the engines show signs of low quality construction.

 

QUOTE: "Based on examinations of recovered, relatively intact Russian-produced Shahed (Geran-2) drones, Ukrainian experts have reported signs of low-quality construction, including simplified bearings, substandard materials, and, in some cases, makeshift engines.

These deficiencies appear to be the result of forced design changes for rapid, large-scale domestic production, aiming to reduce costs.

While earlier versions used higher-quality components, newer models, despite having some upgrades to warheads or guidance, have shown signs of rushed assembly and poorer manufacturing standards. 

Key findings regarding the quality of Russian Shaheds include:

Engine & Part Quality: Reports have highlighted a shift to simplified bearings and direct-rod assemblies, indicating a move away from the higher-quality, often imported components used in initial Iranian-made drones.

"Fly it as is" Approach: Kyiv Post reports that the focus is on quantity over quality, with manufacturing changes sometimes necessitated by supply shortages, leading to lower-grade, but still operational, components. 

 Engines are designed for a single, short-term use, made with materials not intended for long-term durability.

Upgrades vs. Quality: Despite lower-quality construction, these drones have seen improvements in electronic warfare resistance, increased warhead sizes (90kg), and the use of Starlink terminals, say Ukrainian investigators and Serhii Beskrestnov.

 

 

One of the major problems that Russian engine manufacturers face, is the effect of war sanctions and their inability to acquire quality Western country materials and components to build these engines.

They are reliant on China, Iran and Nth Korea for supplies, or reliant on trying to acquire critical supplies from the West, via very roundabout methods, which involves purchase by third parties, or by small countries that are favourable towards Russia.

[Kitfox QLD]

Via Zonsen factory 

[BurnieM]

Does a single use drone need a long (or even medium) life engine ?

 

The jury is still out on the Zonsen Rotax replicas.

 

[facthunter]

Lack of QA would lead to general unreliability possibly to quite a high degree particularly with regard to the Pressed up Crankshaft. IF it slips at ALL, it's cactus. The Later ones have a slight taper on the fit which is pretty hard to engineer accurately. Factory ONLY assembly. Nev

[Methusala]

They obviously don't need to make it to 100 hourly. They are single use kamikaze devices. Anyone out there reuse paper coffee cups?

[Moneybox]

56 minutes ago, Methusala said:

They obviously don't need to make it to 100 hourly. They are single use kamikaze devices. Anyone out there reuse paper coffee cups?

The Yanks did a similar thing when they produced the HMMWV. It was only ever designed for a quick sortie into hostile territory and back again. Then it was due to be refurbished. The limited life of some of their components was revealed when AM-General Corporation released the Hummer for civilian use. The HMMWV and Hummer were produced on the same assembly line in the old Studebaker factory that forked sending each opposite directions to be fitted with their minor differences.

 

We serviced the civilian version and although it was a magnificent offroad vehicle, some components, those not borrowed from existing production vehicles, wore out after exceptionally short lifespans. They were built for outstanding function over a short dash and never intended for regular onroad use. I had to redesign some of those components for our RH drive models because we were responsible for the warranty of anything RHD.

 

Why spend time money and materials on something you might never see again once it heads into battle.

[onetrack]

I fully agree with minimal construction costs for a suicide drone - but I'd be concerned the Rooskies would be inclined to use many of the drone components in their aviation engine, primarily for fast profits.

[Moneybox]

6 minutes ago, onetrack said:

I fully agree with minimal construction costs for a suicide drone - but I'd be concerned the Rooskies would be inclined to use many of the drone components in their aviation engine, primarily for fast profits.

We have seen some crude machinery come from the USSR but they did win the space race and they've built to monster aircraft.

[onetrack]

Yes... but it was largely ethnic Ukrainians who were the drivers behind improved Russian aviation products, and space exploration major gains.

They don't have the luxury of Ukrainian support in those two areas today.

[Methusala]

Rushians have developed the Sarmat, many hypersonic vehicles and Posiedon nuclear submarine. Fearsome weapons the west has no defence against. They didn't make the F22 or F35 pigs. Winning against NATO Zand EU proxies in Ukraine. Have to see in the washup

[skippydiesel]

Never mind the fancy war machines,  Russia has along a bloody history of using its own as cannon fodder - doing much the same against Ukraine.

 

Ukraine can not hope to win against Russia. The best they can hope for, is to repel the invader, even this won't happen, without boots on the ground help from the West.😈

[facthunter]

Navalny was Poisoned. Russia denies it of course but who Believes them these days? Nev

[Moneybox]

9 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Navalny was Poisoned. Russia denies it of course but who Believes them these days? Nev

Keep in mind most of the information we receive has been filtered, modified or constructed by media and government authorities. There's not a lot of fact filtering through especially if the Yanks are involved. One of the craziest things I read was that Ukraine was not allowed to use certain weapons in their defence against the Russian invasion. Who makes those sort of decisions, certainly nobody in the front line.

[facthunter]

This was from Germans who examined the Body and identified the Poison. Recently. Nev

[skippydiesel]

Methinks the Americans may also "dispose of" of troublesome individuals - how did Epstein come to die no conveniently?????😈

[facthunter]

Yes and maybe more in the future when Trump gets more desperate. The rope marks don't match the  damage on Epsteins Neck. Nev

[Thruster88]

Can we stick to aviation, there are other places to talk crap.

[facthunter]

It's Pretty significant CRAP. Nev

[nomadpete]

Back to ruskie drone engines (and US humvees), I recall that the WW2 americano Jeep was designed with a service life of a handful of hours. But SOME are still in use 80 years later.

 

The fact that a military version is thrown together in haste does not condemn that maker. That particular product IS fit for purpose at that time. It doesn't prove that everything they make is crap (even though it MIGHT be)

 

Anyway, I wouldn't fly behind any Rusky or china copy of a known reliable engine.

 

 

Edited February 17 by nomadpete

[facthunter]

Some Wartime Jeeps were Made by FORD and some by WILLYS and they are a basic simple 4 cyl sidevalve engine and quite reliable but not that Powerful. The engine is a Willys  design. Todays Jeeps are BY Chrysler  and have been for  Ages. Nev

[facthunter]

Stellantis Now has Many of those Brands. Wartime Production figures 363,000 by  willys & 280,000 by ford. . They were able to Pull substantial weights. I thought they were TOO short to ride well and found them uncomfortable for any distance but they were Pretty tough. Nev

[Moneybox]

8 hours ago, facthunter said:

Some Wartime Jeeps were Made by FORD and some by WILLYS and they are a basic simple 4 cyl sidevalve engine and quite reliable but not that Powerful. The engine is a Willys  design. Todays Jeeps are BY Chrysler  and have been for  Ages. Nev

They were great little vehicles, crude but reliable. It was their light weight and simplicity that made them so successful. Many thousands of them were disposed of at sea after the end of the second world war.

[BrendAn]

I guess the request to stick to aviation was missed.by some.

[BrendAn]

It shows what a great engine the Rotax 9 series are when other countries are copying them because they can't design anything better 

That video is annoying ai. It talks about piston engines while showing jets and turboprops.

Ai has so many flaws and it's everywhere on the net now spewing out completely wrong information.

Bullshit rules these day's.