The launch of the MS-21-400 project in development will depend on the demand after the start of operation in airlines of the MS-21-300/310 aircraft. This was reported to journalists by the General director of the Irkut Corporation Ravil Khakimov.
"As soon as we certify and start producing this aircraft, most likely we will launch the MS-21-400," he said.
At the moment, the basic version of the aircraft - MS-21-300/310-is being certified. The version of the aircraft with the Russian PD-14 engine (index 310) is undergoing factory finishing tests. In the near future, the plane will fly to Zhukovsky, with a stop in Ulyanovsk for painting.
"Design documentation has been developed for MS-21-200 and MS-21-400. 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," said the General director of Irkut. He explained that this will happen no earlier than 2024-2025.
As part of the "Airplane 2020" program, the United Aircraft Corporation is considering the possibility of developing promising modifications of the MS-21 airliner for the period up to 2035. First of all, it is possible to upgrade the MS-21 in terms of optimizing the specific fuel consumption and improving the aerodynamics of the liner.
Previously worked out options for a new narrow-body "single-pass" aircraft MS-21-400, which will require engines with a thrust of up to 18 t-PD-18. It is also possible to create aircraft of the family-MS-21-500, MS-21-600 with 20-25 t thrust engines and MS-21-700 with 30 t thrust engines.
A variant of the "universal" MC-21X aircraft is also being considered, which can be positioned for a maximum flight range of 9,000-10,000 kilometers. In this version, the aircraft turns out to be more continental, but even taking into account the headwind, it is possible to operate it on ocean routes.
The cost estimate of the MS-21X project is about two times cheaper than creating two aircraft: a wide-body long-haul and a new narrow-body MS-21-400. The MS-21-400 will exceed the take-off weight of 105 tons, the take-off weight of the MS-21X aircraft will be around 155 tons.
