Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Yakovlev's Irkutsk Aviation Plant, where he inspected the MC-21-310 production line. The narrowbody airliner is expected to receive certification and enter commercial service in 2027.
The Kremlin said Putin toured the assembly facilities and boarded one of the completed MC-21-310 aircraft. The airliner is built with Russian-made systems and PD-14 turbofan engines under Moscow's import substitution program. The aircraft replaced Western equipment after sanctions imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Related news
Yakovlev currently has 18 MC-21-310 aircraft at different stages of assembly, according to the Kremlin and state-owned Rostec. The visit also included an inspection of the upgraded Yak-130M combat trainer. The aircraft received a new targeting system, an onboard defensive suite and the ability to employ guided missiles against air and ground targets, including heavy unmanned aircraft.
The MC-21-310 is expected to receive type certification in 2027. The first production aircraft are scheduled for delivery later that year after years of delays caused by the replacement of imported components.
The latest certification campaign showed the aircraft flying about 3,800 km (2,050 nm) with a payload equivalent to 175 passengers. The flights provided the clearest indication so far of its operational performance in production configuration.
That figure remains well below the range offered by the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, which can fly more than 6,000 km depending on the variant and cabin layout.
Before sanctions, the MC-21 had been designed around Pratt & Whitney PW1400G geared turbofan engines and dozens of Western-built systems. Russian manufacturers later replaced those components with domestic alternatives. The redesign delayed the program by several years.
