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What's Happening
- Russia's United Aircraft Corporation is experimenting with Sberbank's GigaChat AI model to assist engineers in developing future aircraft.
- Engineers use the large language model to explore possible configurations before detailed engineering begins.
- The project remains in an experimental phase, with UAC yet to announce a specific timetable or identify the aircraft involved.
Why It Matters
Western sanctions forced Russia to rebuild its industrial technology stack. Adapting a bank's language model for aerospace engineering demonstrates how isolated nations repurpose available domestic AI to maintain manufacturing capabilities.
The Context
- Major engineering software suppliers, including Dassault Systèmes, Siemens, and Autodesk, withdrew operations following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- UAC manufactures Russia's Su-57 and Su-35 combat aircraft, alongside civilian programs like the MC21 passenger jet.
What They're Saying
- UAC specialists state the technology allows engineers to "take a larger sample and understand a problem more deeply."
- UAC general designer Sergey Korotkov supported exploring AI tools where practical engineering requirements justify the computational addition.
What to Watch
- Engineers plan to eventually apply the technology to structural strength assessments and aerodynamic computations.
The Bottom Line
Technology embargoes are pushing Russian aerospace manufacturers to adapt domestic banking AI models for complex engineering tasks.
Mentioned in this story
Dassault Systèmes