The digital twin of the MC-21 allows thousands of scenarios – from lightning strikes to engine failure – to be virtually experienced before the aircraft even touches the runway. The system is used at the Engineering Center of PAO "Yakovlev" (PAO "OAK", Rostec), the state corporation reported.
Checks are carried out according to the "four birds" concept: "virtual" – mathematical models, "electronic" – a stand with real equipment and software simulation of other systems, "iron" – real actuators, hydraulics, and landing gear, and the real aircraft. These stages are linked by a "digital thread": the system tracks changes in wing material through requirements, calculations, documents, production, and specific aircraft. Yakovlev has launched the "Chronos" document approval system, which received funding from Rostec's business accelerator in 2026.
The economic effect is not a single function, but a reduction in late rework and unscheduled downtime. In operation, the history of a specific aircraft – flights, repairs, component replacements – allows for more accurate condition assessment and a transition from scheduled to predictive maintenance. The virtual model does not replace real tests: its accuracy is limited by data quality, the completeness of physical laws, and the correctness of assumptions. The main limitations are the incompatibility of systems from different manufacturers, implementation costs, cybersecurity, and a shortage of specialists at the intersection of aerospace engineering and IT.