The Russian government has officially acknowledged a de facto pause in the development of its widebody long-range aircraft program (WLA). According to Government Order No. 4093-r dated December 26, 2025, signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has been authorized to reallocate unused budget funds toward the modernization of Tu-214 and MC-21-310 passenger aircraft.
The total amount of redirected funding reaches up to RUB 2.6 billion (approximately USD 35 million). The source of the funds is the budget originally designated for the widebody aircraft, which currently remains inactive. The formal reallocation institutionalizes the program’s pause and effectively suspends active R&D in the medium term.
The bulk of the funding—up to RUB 2.2 billion—is allocated to the refinement of the import-substituted version of the MC-21. Efforts focus on reducing the airframe’s weight and optimizing its aerodynamic and flight performance characteristics. This includes preparing a technical report outlining targeted weight-reduction measures, covering the wing box, center wing section, landing gear bay, wing high-lift devices, wing-fuselage fairing, pylon, select fuselage sections, and onboard systems. Completion of this stage is scheduled no later than December 31, 2026.
In parallel, design documentation will be developed for specific structural solutions derived from the weight-reduction initiatives, with completion expected by December 31, 2027. A separate technical report addressing aerodynamic performance enhancements is also planned, with a deadline of December 31, 2026.
The program additionally encompasses prototype design work for tooling production and delivery, as well as the fabrication of mock-ups for cabin interiors, passenger equipment, and crew stations intended for qualification and certification testing. By September 30, 2026, at least 569 prototype interior components are to be manufactured and preliminarily tested, alongside a minimum of 517 tooling units.
By October 30, 2026, at least seven prototype interior assemblies must complete manufacturing and qualification testing. Revisions to design documentation and modifications to prototype interiors based on additional certification tests are scheduled to conclude no later than December 31, 2026.
An additional RUB 400 million (around USD 5.5 million) is earmarked for extending the operational life of at least four communication nodes on Tu-214 aircraft operated by the Special Flight Detachment “Rossiya,” under the Presidential Administration. Work is expected to complete by the end of 2028, focusing solely on maintaining airworthiness without affecting standard production configurations.
This funding reallocation formalizes a strategic shift in Russian civil aviation. Resources previously committed to the widebody program—which was intended to replace the Il-96-300/Il-96-400M and serve as an alternative to China’s C929—are now concentrated on medium-range aircraft programs, with serial production scheduled to commence following the certification of Russian-made components.
(4 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)
Loading...