Russian state technology company Rostec and its aerospace arm UAC have ensured that the next gen MC-21-300 commercial jet will be delivered to their customers in 2022, despite US trade restrictions.
UAC’s statement was made to Sputnik News on Thursday, which acknowledged that the aircraft’s program was delayed due to difficulties involving Western suppliers. “The trade restrictions had an impact on the pace of the implementation of the MC-21-300 program. It chiefly affected supply of materials for composite wing production,” said the company.
Russia, however, reaffirmed the expectation that the twin-engine jet will receive certification from the country’s aviation authorities by the end of 2021, which will allow deliveries to airlines to begin in 2022 – the service debut is expected to occur with Aeroflot.
According to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov, 40% of the MC-21-300 equipment that was supplied by foreign companies had to be replaced by similar national ones.
The statements by UAC and Rostec came on the eve of the announcement of new sanctions by the Biden administration against Russia.
Final testing phase
The Irkut MC-21 is a single-aisle jet project similar in size to the A320 and launched in 2006. After delays in the program, the first test aircraft was introduced in 2016 and flew for the first time in May 2017.
Since then, four prototypes have taken turns in the task of certification in addition to a fifth aircraft, the MC-21-310, equipped with Russian PD-14 engines.
Last week, Irkut successfully ended testing on natural icing and the aircraft is now entering the final certification phase.
