Russia’s domestically produced MC-21 aircraft has conducted its first flight, taking off from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant airfield to test new local systems and PD-14 engines, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.
Footage of the flight appeared on the ministry’s Telegram channel on Tuesday.
The aircraft joins the certification testing program along with another MC-21 prototype that includes partially Russian-made systems and components. That prototype made its first flight in its new configuration on April 29, 2025, according to the ministry, Russia Press Agency TASS reported.
The MC-21, developed by Yakovlev (part of the United Aircraft Corporation under Rostec), is Russia’s main mid-range passenger jet project designed to compete with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX families.
The aircraft can carry between 163 and 211 passengers depending on configuration, with a flight range of up to 6,400 kilometers.
The PD-14 engine, developed by the United Engine Corporation, is the first entirely Russian turbofan engine created for civil aviation in more than 30 years. It replaces Western-made engines previously used on the model, marking a key step toward aviation self-sufficiency.
Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov said certification of the fully import-substituted MC-21 will be completed by the end of 2026. Once approved, the first two aircraft are expected to enter serial production.
The MC-21 program is central to Moscow’s efforts to replace foreign aircraft and components with domestic alternatives after sanctions disrupted Russia’s access to Western technology and parts.
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