The project of the MS-21-400 aircraft, capable of carrying up to 260 passengers, is expected to be launched in 2024-2025. This was announced on Wednesday, June 16, by Ravil Khakimov, General Director of Irkut Corporation.
Currently, the basic model of the aircraft — MS-21-300-is in the certification stage. The aircraft received the index -310, now the car is undergoing factory finishing tests.
As Khakimov explained, design documentation has already been developed for the MS-21-200 and MS-21-400 aircraft.
"As soon as the MC-21-300 version starts flying in airlines, depending on the demand, we will most likely take up the MC-21-400 project first of all, that is, it is a medium-haul aircraft that can carry up to 260 passengers. And depending on the demand, we will look at how to launch the MS-21-200. This is the year 2024-2025. As soon as we certify and start producing this aircraft, we will most likely launch the MS-21-400, " Khakimov said.
On June 10, it became known that Irkut plans to deliver 1099 domestic MC-21, Superjet and IL-114-300 aircraft by 2035. To organize the delivery and leasing of such a fleet, the aircraft manufacturer will need financing in the amount of 4.15 trillion rubles.
Kirill Budaev, Vice-President, Head of Marketing and Sales of civil aircraft of the corporation, said that in 2022 the company will deliver six MC-21 aircraft to the first operator, Rossiya Airlines (part of the Aeroflot Group).
In November 2019, it became known that the Irkut Corporation completed the construction of the fourth MC-21-300 aircraft for flight tests.
MS-21 is a project of a family of short-and medium-range jet passenger narrow-body aircraft. It is designed for flights with a range of 6 thousand km and is being created as a replacement for the Tu-154 and Tu-204/214 airliners, as well as foreign-made Airbus A320, Boeing 737, etc.
The first flight of the MS-21 was made in 2017. The plane was shown to the public at the MAKS air show in September 2019. The first demonstration flight of the liner was made on American Pratt & Whitney engines.
