The production program for the MS-21 passenger aircraft turned out to be significantly smaller than previous expectations. According to sources familiar with the situation, the production volume has been limited to 32 aircraft, including future experimental MS-21-210s.
The main reason cited is the lack of funding for the program. Against this backdrop, staff reductions have begun at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, where the MS-21 family of airliners is being assembled.
There have been no official comments from the enterprise or the aircraft developer regarding this information yet.
The source links the situation to several factors simultaneously. These include the high cost of loans, limited access to financing for large industrial projects, and significant costs for import substitution of systems and components.
It should be noted that changes to the MS-21 production program have not yet been confirmed. There are no official statements about its reduction to 32 aircraft or about staff reductions.