Serial production of the Irkut MC-21 will begin in 2025, as Denis Manturov, Russia’s deputy prime minister -also head of the industry and trade ministry- announced
Irkut and the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) recently completed static testing of the aircraft. During the last cycle of tests, conducted at the TsAGI stands, the aircraft’s endurance characteristics were confirmed. This paves the way for the start of production.
The MC-21 is a medium-haul, new-generation aircraft, with a capacity of 163 to 211 passengers. Among its innovations, it has a longer wing span and is made of composite materials, something unusual in the segment. In addition, the Aviadvigatel PD-14 engines (of domestic origin) compete in fuel consumption, noise levels, and emissions of harmful substances with Western power plants of the same category.
This is carried out as part of the Russian Federation’s “Northern Gate” program. New workshops are being built to increase mass production of the MC-21 at the Irkut plant in the southern Russian city of Irkutsk. The mechanical and accessory assemblies, among other industries, will be expanded. The work will be carried out as the second part of the plan and will be located on 75 hectares of the plant’s land.
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In addition to the MC-21, the Tu-214, of which 20 units per year are planned to be produced from 2027, will be assembled at the facility. There will also be a foundry, machining stations, and milling machines. Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) will also be manufactured, and helicopter spare parts will be produced.
One of the cluster’s tasks will be to promote import substitution in a strategic industry such as aviation. “It is in the Republic’s best interests for the production of domestic components to be as close as possible to the factories where they are used,” the ministry responded to a question from Business Gazeta.
