Russia’s largest airline, Aeroflot, has signed a major contract to acquire 90 Russian-built Yakovlev MC-21-310 passenger aircraft, in what officials describe as a landmark deal for the country’s civil aviation industry.
The agreement was signed on September 18 with companies belonging to the state-owned Rostec conglomerate, including United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Aviacapital-Service and United Engine Corporation (UEC). Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the signing ceremony via video link.
Deliveries to Begin in 2029
Under the new contract, Aeroflot is scheduled to receive the 90 aircraft between 2029 and 2032. The planned delivery schedule is 14 aircraft in 2029, 18 in 2030, 24 in 2031 and 34 in 2032.
The order comes on top of an earlier 2023 agreement for 18 MC-21 aircraft. Aeroflot is expected to receive eight of those aircraft in 2027 and another 10 in 2028, bringing its total commitment to 108 MC-21s.
Boost for Russia’s Domestic Aircraft Industry
The agreement is strategically important for Russia’s efforts to reduce its dependence on Western aircraft manufacturers and suppliers following sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The MC-21-310 has undergone extensive redesign and import substitution, with Russian manufacturers developing domestic replacements for numerous foreign-supplied components. The aircraft is powered by Russian-made PD-14 engines and is designed to carry up to 211 passengers.
Rostec said the contract provides a predictable production workload and supports plans to increase serial production of the aircraft.
Certification Remains a Key Milestone
Despite the size of the order, the MC-21 has yet to enter regular passenger service. Russian officials expect certification of the domestically configured MC-21-310 to be completed in 2027, with deliveries of the new aircraft planned thereafter. The programme has faced delays as Russia has worked to replace components previously supplied by foreign companies.
The new agreement also includes flight simulators, pilot and technical staff training, maintenance software and 22 years of technical support for Aeroflot’s 108 aircraft.
Aeroflot to Become Launch Operator
Aeroflot is expected to become the launch operator of the current Russian-configured MC-21-310. The airline has said it is preparing pilots, cabin crew and engineers for the aircraft’s introduction.
The first aircraft are expected to initially serve shorter domestic routes, while the airline builds operational experience with the new type.
The deal represents a major commitment to Russia’s domestic commercial-aircraft programme and provides the MC-21 with a large initial customer base as Moscow seeks to expand serial production of locally manufactured passenger jets.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
