FEDERAL STATE UNITARY ENTERPRISE THE CENTRAL AEROHYDRODYNAMIC INSTITUTE NAMED AFTER PROF. N.E. ZHUKOVSKY

Their core work

TsAGI is Russia's principal aerospace research center, specializing in aerodynamics, flight physics, and aircraft design methodology. Within H2020, they contribute wind tunnel testing, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) expertise, and experimental databases to European aviation research consortia. Their core work spans icing simulation and certification, turbulence modeling, noise reduction, and aerodynamic optimization — capabilities built on decades of large-scale wind tunnel and flight test infrastructure. More recently, they have expanded into hybrid-electric propulsion system architecture for regional aircraft.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2017), TsAGI's involvement centered on broad aviation safety research, aerodynamic noise, and foundational CFD methodology — topics reflecting their traditional strengths as a large aerodynamics laboratory. From 2018 onward, a clear pivot emerged toward in-flight icing (three dedicated projects on simulation, detection, and certification) and hybrid-electric propulsion for regional aircraft. This shift mirrors the wider European aviation agenda moving from incremental aerodynamic refinement toward weather resilience and propulsion decarbonization.

TsAGI is building a strong icing simulation and certification capability while positioning for the hybrid-electric regional aircraft transition — two areas where demand for specialized partners will grow.

How they like to work

TsAGI participates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator — consistent with its role as a specialized contributor of wind tunnel data, experimental databases, and simulation benchmarks. With 174 unique partners across 29 countries, they operate in large European consortia (typical for Clean Sky 2 and transport RIA projects) rather than small focused teams. Their breadth of partnerships suggests they are valued as a reliable technical contributor that integrates smoothly into multi-partner projects.

An extensive European network spanning 174 unique partners across 29 countries, reflecting deep integration into the EU aviation research ecosystem despite being a non-EU entity. Their partnerships span major aerospace OEMs, universities, and research centers across Western and Central Europe.

What sets them apart

TsAGI brings world-class wind tunnel infrastructure and an experimental aerodynamics heritage that few European partners can match in scale. Their concentrated expertise in icing phenomena — covering simulation, detection, flight testing, and certification — makes them one of the few organizations active across the entire icing research chain. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: deep experimental capability paired with advanced numerical simulation skills, backed by one of the largest aerospace research facilities globally.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MUSIC-haic
  Five-year project building next-generation 3D multidisciplinary tools for simulating high-altitude ice crystal icing — the longest-running project in their portfolio.
• Future Sky Safety
  Large-scale safety research coordination project spanning 2015–2019, covering fire safety, human factors, and organizational safety across European aviation.
• IMOTHEP
  Forward-looking hybrid-electric propulsion investigation that signals TsAGI's pivot toward decarbonized aviation and next-generation aircraft architectures.