RuAviation

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has revised the published performance data for the MC-21, lowering the aircraft’s range from 3,170 mi (5,100 km) to 2,380 mi (3,830 km). According to the company, the update reflects the actual route structure of Russian carriers, where nearly 80% of domestic flights are under 1,860 mi (3,000 km). UAC maintains that the adjusted figure more accurately represents typical airline operations.

Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov noted that the performance of the MC-21-310 remains consistent with the technical requirements defined by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Minpromtorg) during the program’s launch in 2009. The range reduction, he said, is tied to ongoing optimization of aircraft systems, improvements in fuel efficiency, and airframe weight refinements—changes made without compromising reliability or safety.

Minpromtorg’s original concept outlined a family of medium-range airliners with ranges between 2,175 mi and 4,660 mi (3,500–7,500 km), including larger variants such as the MC-21-400. The baseline MC-21-300 was designed for around 180 passengers with a range of 2,175 mi (3,500 km), factoring in fuel reserves, alternate airports, and holding requirements.

Chemezov also confirmed that Yakovlev JSC is evaluating a shortened 140-seat MC-21 derivative. The concept was disclosed during the Dubai Airshow 2025, and early estimates indicate that development would require at least two years. Increasing the aircraft’s range remains a long-term objective for the program and will involve further system optimization, airframe weight reduction, and engine efficiency improvements.

Certification Flight Activity

The second MC-21 aircraft outfitted entirely with domestic avionics and systems—prototype 73057—arrived at Yakovlev’s Flight Test and Development Center (FTDC) at Ramenskoye on November 13 to begin certification trials. The aircraft conducted its first certification flight on November 25, with initial testing focused on stability, handling qualities, and low-speed characteristics.

Test pilot Oleg Mutovin, who commanded the flight, said the team carried out extensive post-ferry preparations, including full system reactivation, avionics software updates, and ground checks. According to Mutovin, the aircraft demonstrated stable handling throughout the envelope. “We completed stability and controllability evaluations across several altitude bands, including maximum angle-of-attack maneuvers and minimum-speed configurations. The aircraft performed as expected,” he noted.

Class 1 test pilot Nikolay Grigoryev added that the MC-21’s characteristics remain consistent with earlier certification results obtained on aircraft equipped with foreign-supplied systems. He emphasized that the domestic-systems configuration fully complied with the certification basis in the tested areas.

Chief flight test engineer Oleg Berezin reported that all onboard systems functioned normally, and no issues were identified that could delay the test schedule. He highlighted the importance of bringing the second domestic-systems aircraft into the program, as it will be central to securing the amended Type Certificate.

Systems and Airframe Modifications

MC-21 Chief Designer Vitaly Naryshkin confirmed that nearly all major systems on aircraft 73057 have transitioned to Russian-built components. The flight-control architecture now incorporates fully domestic actuators, wing mechanization drives, stabilizer trim mechanisms, and cockpit control units. Ground and flight tests have so far shown no discrepancies.

The aircraft also features a Russian-manufactured composite wing, which has completed its full certification test program. Installation of cabin interiors—sidewalls, overhead bins, and selected seating—is planned in the coming phase. Naryshkin said the interior layout is expected to offer a more spacious cabin compared to several contemporary Western models.

PD-14 Engine Testing

According to ODK Sales Deputy Director Fyodor Mironov, the PD-14 engine continues to meet thrust, weight, and fuel-consumption targets in both ground and flight trials. Mironov reiterated that the powerplant remains competitive with engines in the same thrust class used by global operators.

Status of the Test Fleet

Anatoly Gaidansky, First Deputy Managing Director of Yakovlev JSC, noted that aircraft 73057 (MC-21-0013) was originally designated as the first serial MC-21-300 with imported systems (RA-73361). Following the introduction of the Russian-composite wing and the shift to domestic systems—including replacements for both the main and auxiliary power units—the aircraft has returned to flight after an extensive modification campaign.

Gaidansky said the preparation process required close coordination among engineering, production, and test teams. With its updated configuration, 73057 will now participate in the full certification program. “This aircraft is critical for validating the domestic-systems configuration,” he said.

During November, the two active prototypes—73055 (MC-21-0012) and 73057—completed 20 flights totaling 79 hours. Aircraft 73055 continues long-range functional checks, including extended northern-route flights to verify INS accuracy, radio-navigation performance, and FMS behavior. A 6.5-hour evaluation flight on November 18 covered a route from Zhukovsky to Ukhta, Salekhard, and the Ob River delta before returning.

Before its arrival at Ramenskoye, 73057 conducted five post-modification flights in Irkutsk. The November 13 ferry flight exceeded six hours and followed established civil airways, marking the aircraft’s first long-duration mission in the domestic-systems configuration.

To date, aircraft 73055 has completed 23 of the 293 certification flights required. Rosaviatsiya head Dmitry Yadrov confirmed at the Transport Russia 2025 forum that certification of the domestic-systems MC-21 variant is targeted for late 2026.

Yakovlev estimates that 220–230 additional flights across prototypes 73055 and 73057 will be necessary to finalize compliance and secure the amended Type Certificate, enabling serial production and entry-into-service. Gaidansky expects the core certification campaign to conclude by summer 2026, positioning the aircraft for deliveries shortly thereafter.