During a visit to the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin demanded that the range of the MS-21-310 passenger aircraft be increased. The aircraft, which is fitted predominantly with Russian systems and components, is still undergoing testing, and serial deliveries to airlines – which had been planned since 2016 – have been postponed once again, this time until 2027.
Briefly about the main points
- Putin inspected the MS-21-310 at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.
- The Kremlin wants to increase the range of the aircraft, which is still undergoing certification.
- The stated range of the MC-21-310 is 3,830 km with 175 passengers on board.
- Of the 232 certification flights, 101 had been completed by June.
- A prototype of the shortened MS-21-210 is scheduled to be ready by the end of 2028.
Range has become a new challenge for the unfinished programme
Putin was shown the MS-21-310, which is fitted with predominantly Russian systems and components. He discussed the aircraft’s specifications with the company’s management, focusing in particular on its range.
The developer’s official website for the MC-21-310 states a range of 3,830 kilometres in a two-class configuration seating 175 passengers. According to Interfax, documents relating to the state contract attributed this reduction to the aircraft’s weight being greater than expected, given that it utilises domestically produced components instead of imports.
The request to increase the range was made before the flight certification of the basic configuration had been completed. Chief Designer at Yakovlev« Vitaliy Naryshkin On 24 June, it was announced that two test aircraft had completed 101 of the 232 planned certification flights, and that the type certificate is expected to be granted in June 2027.
Planes are flying, but there are no scheduled flights
The MC-21 is not, strictly speaking, a non-existent aircraft: Russia has built several prototype and pre-production aircraft, which are currently undergoing test flights. The first prototype took to the skies in May 2017.
However, the production aircraft are still not operating regular commercial flights. Production was initially scheduled to begin in 2016, but the deadline was subsequently postponed to 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 and beyond.
In May, the head of «Rostec» Sergey Chemezov reported that the start of mass production has effectively been postponed until 2027. This means that the new performance requirement applies not to a finished mass-produced product, but to a programme that is still completing a key certification stage.
Import substitution has changed the aircraft’s design
The original MC-21 project relied on Western engines, electronics and other systems. After the imposition of sanctions Russian developers have begun replacing dozens of foreign components with their own equivalents.
Instead of Pratt & Whitney engines, Russian PD-14 engines were fitted to the aircraft. The avionics, auxiliary power unit, air-conditioning systems, pressure regulation systems and other equipment were also modified. As a result of these changes, the aircraft became heavier, which had a negative impact on its range and commercial performance.
Rosaviatsiya had previously approved certain amendments to the type certificate, including the replacement of engines and the use of a Russian composite wing. At the same time, Yakovlev itself described these as merely stages in the certification process for a fully import-substituted aircraft: the new avionics are still undergoing the relevant procedures.
The shortened MS-21-210 will not be a quick solution
In May, «Yakovlev» and the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade signed a contract for the development of a shortened version of the MS-21-210. The plan is for the smaller version to have a greater range; the contract is estimated to be worth 19.7 billion roubles.
However, this is a separate research and development project, not a ready-made solution for the MS-21-310. By the end of 2028, the plan is simply to assemble the prototype aircraft and prepare it for its maiden flight. The technical specifications link the increase in range to a reduction in the weight of the engine pylon and the on-board cabling system.
Consequently, the Russian aviation industry is having to finalise certification of the base model, prepare for production and design a new variant all at the same time. Against this backdrop, the directive to increase the range appears to be more of a new technical objective than a plan that can be implemented quickly.
Delivery schedules depend not only on certification
The Russian Federation’s current state programme provides for the delivery of 270 MS-21-310 aircraft between 2024 and 2030. This is a projected government plan, not an actual production figure; its fulfilment depends on the completion of certification and the start of series production.
In April, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation spoke of 18 MS-21s contracted for Aeroflot, to be delivered in 2026–2027. In June, the United Aircraft Corporation was merely awaiting a decision on funding for a potential contract for a further 90 aircraft. This suggests that the large-scale roll-out of the programme also depends on the procurement funding model.
