Import-Free Chassis: "Hydromash" Completes Localization of Critical MC-21 Component

The V.I. Luzyanin Scientific and Production Center "Hydromash" (NAO, Nizhny Novgorod), which celebrated its 220th anniversary last year, has completed the localization and certification of the chassis system for the MC-21 medium-range passenger airliner. All components - from hydraulic cylinders to shock absorbers and retraction mechanisms - are developed and manufactured in Russia without the use of imported counterparts.

The MC-21 project is being implemented by PJSC "Yakovlev" (part of the United Aircraft Corporation) to replace outdated aircraft types such as the Tu-154 and Tu-204, as well as to compete with Western counterparts in the domestic and international markets. The aircraft is designed for 163-211 passengers and is capable of operating flights up to 6,000 km.

"Hydromash's" participation in the program began in 2009, when the company won a tender for the supply of chassis. In 2011, a contract was signed for a full cycle of work: design, manufacture, ground and flight tests, as well as serial deliveries of the front and two main landing gear struts for all MC-21 modifications.

By the time the first prototype was rolled out on June 8, 2016, at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, the chassis system had already passed all stages of ground testing. The head of "Hydromash," Vladimir Luzyanin, noted at the time that the design was completely domestic, contained no imported elements, and was accompanied by a full set of certification documentation required for admission to flight tests.

The MC-21 chassis is designed according to a three-point scheme: the front strut is single-wheeled with a rotation angle of ±70°, the main struts are two-wheeled. The system is equipped with gas-liquid shock absorbers, hydraulic retraction/extension drives, and integrated load monitoring sensors. The mass of the entire system is about 5.5 tons, which meets the requirements for weight efficiency for narrow-body airliners.

As of January 2026, the import-substituted version of the MC-21 is in the final stages of certification testing. According to Rosaviatsia, only five of the more than 200 onboard systems remain to be localized. In November 2025, the second flight copy, fully equipped with Russian components, including the "Hydromash" chassis,began testing.

The chief designer of "Hydromash," Andrei Tsyupiy, was present at the first flight of this aircraft from the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. Together with the chief designer of the MC-21, Vitaly Naryshkin, he monitored the operation of the chassis in real conditions - from takeoff to retraction and subsequent extension before landing.

"Hydromash" has fully fulfilled its technical and certification obligations under the state contract, ensuring the localization of all MC-21 chassis components and systems in accordance with AP-25 requirements (airworthiness standards for civil aircraft). The developed design has passed a full cycle of resource, static, and dynamic tests, includingimpact loads during landing, retraction/extension cycles, and hydraulic system leak tests.

Read more materials on the topic:

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• Russian tires for the chassis of MC-21 and SJ-100 airliners have successfully passed certification
• The MC-21 crew decided not to risk landing in strong winds during testing