The Russian MC-21 has not yet completed certification in Russia, but Rosaviatsia has already outlined the conditions for its future operation by Indian airlines. The head of the agency, Dmitry Yadrov, announced that the aircraft will be able to perform commercial flights in India after receiving a certificate from local aviation authorities.
For these aircraft to be able to fly in India and from India, the Indian aviation authorities must carry out all measures related to the certification of aviation equipment.
The situation looks unusual against the backdrop of the program's current state: the fully import-substituted production MC-21 made its first flight only on August 3, 2026, and is currently continuing flight tests. Russian certification of the aircraft, according to Yadrov, should be completed by mid-2027.
It is after the Russian certification stage that the next barrier for foreign operation will arise. Indian aviation authorities must conduct their own assessment of the aircraft and compare Russian requirements with the norms applied in their country. Yadrov noted that only after the issuance of an Indian certificate will local carriers be able to operate the MC-21.
At the same time, the Russian market for the MC-21 remains a priority: Yadrov previously stated that OAK is already discussing possible deliveries of aircraft to friendly countries, but first it is necessary to provide them to domestic airlines. The aircraft continues to undergo certification tests, and in 2026, OAK also completed a separate set of MC-21 tests in natural icing conditions.