First production model of Russia’s MC-21-310 completes maiden flight
Russia’s first production MC-21-310 aircraft has completed its maiden flight.
The aircraft took off from United Aircraft Corporation (UAC)’s facility in Irkutsk, Siberia on August 3, 2026, and was airborne for one hour and 23 minutes. During the initial flight, the aircraft reached speeds of 600 kilometers per hour (372 miles per hour) and an altitude of 6,000 meters (19,685 feet).
This milestone in the MC-21-310 program was announced just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Irkutsk Aviation Plant on July 24, 2026, for what was reported to be an “inspection tour” by Russia media.
Touted as Russia’s answer to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families of aircraft, the MC-21-310 is the first version of the new Russian airliner built with domestically-produced components.
The MC-21 program has, however, accumulated years of delay since its launch in 2009.
The baseline MC-21-300 design made substantial use of Western components and was powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engines. However, as part of its policy of technological self-reliance, Russia developed the MC-21-310 version, which uses a larger number of domestically produced components and is powered by Russian-made PD-14 engines.
The switch to domestic components (or as it is often referred to in Russia, to an “import-substituted” version of the MC-21) accelerated after relations with the West deteriorated following the 2014 Crimea annexation by Russia.
The MC-21-310, made almost entirely with Russian-made parts, became UAC’s only alternative to continue with the program’s development after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 cut Russia off from global aerospace supply chains. These changes have continued to add delays to a program that was already lagging behind.
As of August 2026, the MC-21-310 is still undergoing its certification process, although, according to officials at UAC cited by Russian media, there are currently 18 MC-21-310 aircraft in different states of completion at the Irkutsk plant.
RELATED
Russia steps up funding for MC-21 production, support also for first IL-114-300s
The post First production model of Russia’s MC-21-310 completes maiden flight appeared first on AeroTime.
Russia’s first production MC-21-310 aircraft has completed its maiden flight. The aircraft took off from United Aircraft Corporation (UAC)’s facility in Irkutsk, Siberia on August 3, 2026,…
The post First production model of Russia’s MC-21-310 completes maiden flight appeared first on AeroTime.
