In February 2026, Yakovlev PJSC advanced certification flight and ground testing of the MC-21 and SJ-100 at Syktyvkar Airport in the Komi Republic and in high-latitude regions of northern Russia. The campaign focused on validating airborne systems across an expanded operational envelope, including cold-weather and high-latitude conditions.
Syktyvkar offers stable winter weather and low traffic density compared with the Moscow airspace hub. The location enables long-duration test sorties and dedicated profiles without slot or airspace constraints.
Import Substitution and Test Aircraft Configuration
UAC stated that the loss of certain U.S.-supplied components does not affect current prototype operations. Since 2022, the program has transitioned to a fully domestic configuration. That transition is now nearing completion.
Flight tests are conducted on aircraft equipped with Russian-developed systems, including the updated flight control system and auxiliary power unit. Aircraft 73051 and MC-21-300 73054, which retain partial foreign avionics content, serve as reference platforms for comparative assessments against domestically equipped aircraft 73055 and 73057. Testing at Syktyvkar confirmed stable and coordinated system performance on aircraft 73055 under expected technical operating conditions at high latitudes, a critical factor for inertial navigation system (INS) accuracy.
Irkutsk Final Assembly and Throughput Increase
Approximately 20 MC-21 airframes are currently in production at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a Yakovlev branch facility. Work spans fuselage section assembly, systems installation and wing-to-center section mating. In early February, one production aircraft completed power-on tests validating the electrical network and systems integration.
Fuselage manufacturing and systems installation take place in workshops 205, 245 and 255. Section joining is performed in shop 246, and final structural assembly, including wing installation, in shop 249. Airframes then move to final assembly for equipment installation, cabin completion and preparation for ground and flight tests.
The plant is increasing throughput through full workshop utilization, streamlined process sequencing and workforce experience. Management plans to activate an additional bay in the engineering building to pre-assemble removable wing components. This step will shift tasks upstream, shorten final assembly cycle time and increase line capacity.
Major Type Design Change Approval
Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) approved a major type design change authorizing the use of domestically produced polymer composite materials in the load-bearing keel and horizontal stabilizer box structures. The approval formalizes the replacement of foreign composite materials in the empennage and supports certification of the import-substituted configuration for commercial service.
KAPO-Composite manufactures the stabilizer and fin box structures under the MC-21 industrial cooperation scheme. Compliance validation included structural analysis, simulation and full-scale testing with participation from Russian certification bodies and research centers. The MC-21 airframe now relies entirely on domestic composite materials.
Aeroflot Negotiations and Pricing Outlook
Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev confirmed negotiations with Aeroflot on the potential acquisition of up to 200 MC-21 narrowbody aircraft by 2033. Aeroflot previously placed an order for 18 aircraft. UAC expects to finalize a contract for 90 aircraft in the first quarter of 2026.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with industry partners, is evaluating options to reduce the price of initial production batches. Cost optimization and productivity gains are lowering unit cost, while long-term order planning is expected to stabilize pricing and support entry into commercial service with Russian carriers.
February Flight Test Metrics
Four aircraft participated in February certification activities: 73051, 73055, 73057 and baseline-certified 73054. The fleet completed 26 flights totaling 111 hours and 7 minutes.
On Feb. 4, aircraft 73055 conducted the program’s longest sortie to date, lasting 7 hours and 7 minutes. The crew evaluated radio-navigation performance northwest of Ukhta and conducted ILS/DME assessments in the local terminal area.
On Feb. 17–18, the crew flew two additional missions of 5 hours 30 minutes and 6 hours 10 minutes. Tests included air data system correction calibration, INS performance validation at multiple flight levels and speeds, and integrated assessments of the flight management system (FMS) and navigation receivers, including VOR/DME, ILS and GLONASS.
Ground tests on Feb. 19 evaluated high-latitude INS alignment accuracy and refined line maintenance procedures using standard airport ground support equipment. Aircraft 73055 returned to Zhukovsky on Feb. 20 via a route extending toward the Sabetta region, where additional high-Arctic INS performance checks were conducted.
Aircraft 73057 performed stability and control evaluations on Feb. 6, 11 and 12. The results were benchmarked against aircraft 73054 during a comparative flight on Feb. 25.
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