On the YouTube channel Luxe Fleet, the Russian import-substituted MS-21-310 and the American Boeing 737 MAX were compared. The video authors named the strengths and weaknesses of both aircraft, and "Pervyi tekhnicheskii" presents the key excerpts from it.
The MS-21 is only being prepared for a commercial launch in 2026, while the Boeing 737 MAX is already being mass-produced by the dozens per month. The main question is range, economics, and global support.
Different starting points
The MS-21 was conceived in the early 2010s as a direct competitor to Western narrow-body aircraft. Its first flight took place in 2017, but sanctions forced the designers to replace a number of imported systems with Russian ones. As a result, the range of the MS-21-310 version was reduced from more than 6,000 km to 3,830 km.
The Boeing 737 has been flying since the 1960s, and the MAX version entered the market in 2017. After the crashes of 2018 and 2019, the program was suspended, then the software was modernized and the aircraft was returned to service.
Boeing is the evolution of a proven platform, while the MS-21 is an entirely new design.
Design and engines — composites versus experience
The video authors recalled that the MS-21 received about 30% composites in the design and a "black wing" made of carbon fiber. The fuselage is wider than that of the "737" — 3.81 m versus 3.54 m. This provides more cabin space and wider seats.
The Russian aircraft is equipped with the PD-14 engine, which is quieter and more environmentally friendly than previous generations and develops thrust of about 13,900 kgf. At the same time, the Leap-1B powerplant on the 737 MAX provides an advantage in fuel efficiency — up to 14% compared with the NG series.
Leap has a global service network, whereas the PD-14 still relies mainly on Russian infrastructure.
Range, price, and market
The MS-21-310 develops a speed of Mach 0.82 and is designed for 163–211 passengers. Takeoff run is about 1,800 m, which gives it an advantage on short runways. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 fly farther — up to 3,500 nautical miles — and require about 2,300 m of runway.
The list price of the MS-21-310 is about $91 million (about 4.4 billion rubles), while the actual cost is still unknown. The 737 MAX is more expensive — $121.6 million — but major customers receive discounts down to $50–60 million. At the same time, Boeing produces about 38 aircraft per month and has thousands of orders.
The verdict of Luxe Fleet analysts is straightforward: "For Russian carriers, the MS-21 is the logical choice. For the global market, Boeing remains the more universal option".