The MC-21 is initially planned for delivery to Russian airlines, with sales then expanding to friendly countries. Dmitry Yadrov, head of Rosaviatsiya, announced these OAK plans, noting that negotiations with potential foreign customers are already underway.
According to Yadrov, the United Aircraft Corporation is discussing MC-21 deliveries with representatives of friendly states. However, the head of Rosaviatsiya considers it more logical to first meet the needs of domestic carriers. This will allow increasing the fleet of Russian airlines and supporting air communication between the country's regions.
But first and foremost, it would probably be more logical to satisfy the demand for aircraft that our domestic airlines have, in order to ensure Russia's connectivity.
Foreign interest in the MC-21 is emerging as the aircraft transitions to serial production in a fully Russian configuration. On August 3, the first production MC-21-310 made its maiden flight from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant airfield. The aircraft received domestic systems and components and is equipped with PD-14 engines.
The MC-21-310 belongs to the class of medium-haul narrow-body airliners. Depending on the configuration, it is designed for 163–211 passengers, develops a cruising speed of up to Mach 0.82, and is capable of flying distances up to 3830 km.
Separately, Yadrov outlined the deadlines for completing certification procedures. According to his assessment, the MC-21 should undergo all necessary procedures by mid-2027. After that, the aircraft's capabilities for large-scale deliveries to Russian and foreign airlines should expand.