By the end of 2026, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant plans to have four serial MC-21 aircraft at its flight test station. The second aircraft is currently undergoing ground system testing, with its first flight expected by October and full flight trials scheduled for late October.
The third aircraft is slated to move from the final assembly shop to the test station on September 28, while the fourth unit is expected to arrive in October for ground testing. According to Rosaviatsia, all certification procedures for the MC-21 should conclude by mid-2027.
The manufacturer aims to reach a production rate of one aircraft every 40 days in 2027. Additionally, the plant plans to begin in-house painting of serial aircraft starting in early 2027. Aeroflot is scheduled to receive its second batch of MC-21 jets in 2029.
Development of the shortened version of the MC-21 is underway, with the first parts already in production. The maiden flight for this new variant is currently scheduled for August 2028. The MC-21 is designed to replace the Tu-154 and Tu-204 series on the Russian market.
