MS-21: what kind of aircraft is it, its characteristics and role in Russian aviation

Content:

• What is MS-21 and why is it needed?
• Technical characteristics of the MS-21 aircraft
• What engine is in the MS-21 aircraft?
• Development and testing stages
• Production and supply of aircraft
• Comparison of MS-21 with foreign analogues
• The Future of the MS-21 Aircraft

What is MS-21 and why is it needed 00:00 Advertisement 00:00 00:00 / 02:03 You can skip the advertisement in More details

The MS-21 (Magistralnyy samolet 21 veka) is a Russian passenger aircraft belonging to the narrow-body medium-haul class. It was developed by PJSC Yakovlev (until July 2023, Irkut Corporation), part of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The project was launched in the early 2000s. Its goal is to create a modern airliner for domestic and international flights, capable of replacing outdated Soviet models and competing with Western counterparts in the civil aviation market.

The market for medium-haul (from 2.5 thousand to 8 thousand km) narrow-body (up to 5 m in diameter, allowing up to six seats in a row) aircraft is the largest segment in the aircraft industry. Aircraft of this class, including models of the Airbus 320 family and Boeing 747, 767 and 777, make up the largest part of the fleet of Russian companies. For example, the Aeroflot Group fleet consists of 349 aircraft, of which 212 (60%) are narrow-body medium-haul aircraft.

Technical characteristics of the MS-21 aircraft

The MS-21 family includes several modifications. As of July 2025, two of them have been developed: the MS-21-300 with the American Pratt & Whitney PW1400G aircraft engine, and the MS-21-310 with the Russian PD-14 engine. Due to the introduction of sanctions against RUSSIA, priority in development was given to the second version, which also incorporated domestic systems and units. Its main characteristics:

• Maximum flight range: up to 5100 km. At the same time, the MS-21-300 version has a higher range of 6000 km.

• Capacity: 163 seats in a typical two-class (16 business  and 147 economy) layout and 211 seats in a single-class layout.

• Cruising speed: 870 km/h.

• Fuselage width: 4.06 m.

• Maximum cabin width: 3.81 m.

• Wingspan: 35.9 m.

• Length: 42.25 m.

• Height: 11.45 m.

• Maximum take-off weight: 85 t.

Assembly of MS-21 aircraft fuselages at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (Photo: Nina Padalko / RIA Novosti )

Before the restrictions were introduced, a shortened version of the MS-21-200 with 130-165 seats was also under development, but no prototypes of this model were built. In September 2024 , First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov announced the advisability of developing a shortened import-substituting version (MS-21-210), designed to carry 140-150 people. In this case, according to him, it would be possible to achieve the initially declared flight range, which was reduced due to the greater weight of domestic systems and units. Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov spoke about the possible capacity of the shortened model for up to 160-170 passengers.

Former CEO of PJSC Yakovlev Andrey Boginsky said in 2023 that a more powerful engine would need to be developed to produce the larger MS-21-400 model.

What engine is in the MS-21 aircraft?

Initially, the MC-21 was planned with two types of engines to be chosen by the customer: the American Pratt & Whitney PW1400G and the Russian PD-14. The American aircraft engine was certified in 2016 and was installed on the first prototypes of the aircraft. In addition, according to plans, the first production aircraft were to be equipped with the PW1400G, and then they would begin producing models with the PD-14. However, in March 2022, Pratt & Whitney stopped delivering engines due to sanctions, so the MC-21 will only be equipped with Russian engines.

The PD-14 is a turbofan engine with a thrust of 14 tons. The lead developer of the PD-14 is UEC-Aviadvigatel, and the manufacturer is UEC-Perm Motors (both companies are part of the United Engine Corporation, UEC). The development of the power plant began in 2008. In December 2017, UEC-Perm Motors signed an agreement with Irkut to supply the PD-14 for the MS-21 airliner. In the fall of 2018, the power plant was certified, which became the first certification of a Russian aircraft engine in 30 years. In April 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade allocated more than 14 billion rubles to improve this aircraft engine.

The MS-21-310 airliner with the PD-14 engine before testing at the M.M. Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky (Photo: Nina Padalko / RIA Novosti)

Development and testing stages

In 2003, Irkut Corporation won the tender for the development and serial production of the MS-21. Ilyushin Aviation Complex (now PJSC Il) and Yakovlev Design Bureau were supposed to work on the project together with it. However, five years later, in 2008, Il left the project, and only Irkut, which included the Yakovlev Design Bureau, remained to work. In December 2009, following the results of the competition, the American Pratt & Whitney won the right to develop the power plant for the MS-21.

The assembly of the first prototype of the MC-21-300 version began in February 2014. Two years later, in June 2016, the aircraft was presented in Irkutsk. The MC-21-300 made its first test flight (30 minutes) in May 2017, and a few months later, in October, it made a six-hour flight from Irkutsk to Zhukovsky Airport near Moscow. In 2020, a prototype of the MC-21 with Russian PD-14 engines (MC-21-310) was built and tested. In November 2021, the construction of the first MC-21-300 with a wing made of Russian composites was completed, and in December of the same year, the aircraft made its first flight and received a type certificate. Rosaviatsia certified the MC-21-310 with a Russian wing in December 2022.

After the introduction of sanctions, other Russian key components began to be introduced, in addition to the wing and engine, which required new tests. The import-substituting MS-21-310 made its first test flight (1 hour 15 minutes) in April 2025, and a non-stop flight a month later. In June, certification tests of the MS-21-310 with Russian systems and units began.

Production and supply of aircraft

The MS-21 is assembled at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, which is owned by PJSC Yakovlev. Some elements are supplied by plants in other regions. Thus, the production of composite wing components is carried out by the Ulyanovsk Aerocomposite plant and the Kazan company KAPO-Composite).

One of the features of the MS-21 is the 40 percent share of composites - materials consisting of two or more components that, when combined with each other, create a new material or improve the characteristics of one of them. In particular, they are used to produce the aircraft's wing. At first, polymer composite components for it were supplied from abroad, but in 2018, the US Department of Commerce imposed sanctions against the wing manufacturer, Aerocomposite. As a result, aircraft manufacturers were forced to begin developing and producing Russian polymer composite materials for the MS-21 wing.

Assembly of MS-21 aircraft fuselages at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (Photo: Nina Padalko / RIA Novosti)

In total, Russian aircraft manufacturers had to replace about 80 foreign components in order to not depend on sanctions and foreign suppliers. According to the HEAD of the UAC, Vadim Badekha, the only foreign units left in the MS-21 are the drives, brakes, and generators.

As of July 2025, no serial MC-21s had been delivered, and only a few prototypes had been manufactured. It was originally planned that airlines would receive the first MC-21-300s in 2016, but the dates for entering commercial operation were repeatedly postponed, including due to sanctions. In February 2024, Chemezov announced that serial deliveries of the MC-21-310 version of the aircraft would begin in 2025–2026.

During the design and construction of the MS-21 aircraft, its final price has increased significantly. It is currently projected to be 7.6 billion rubles ($96 million). Compared to the 2023 estimate (4.3–4.6 billion rubles excluding government support) provided by the National Welfare Fund (NWF), the cost has increased by 65%.

Comparison of MS-21 with foreign analogues

The main competitors of the MC-21-310 are the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX 8. Below is a comparison of their key parameters:

Characteristics of the MC-21-310 Airbus A320neo Boeing 737 MAX 8 Capacity (max) 211 passengers 194 passengers 210 passengers Flight range (max) 5100 km 6300 km 6480 km Takeoff weight (max) 85 t 79 t 82 t Fuselage diameter 4.06 m 3.95 m 3.76 m Engines PD-14 CFM LEAP-1A / PW1100G CFM LEAP-1B

The Future of the MS-21 Aircraft

According to the comprehensive civil aviation development program, 270 MC-21-310 aircraft will be delivered to airlines by the end of 2030. Thus, the Aeroflot Group, which is the largest customer, will receive 108 airliners by this date (210 aircraft were supposed to be delivered in 2022). Another 92 aircraft will be delivered to the airline by 2032. Other customers include Smartavia (45 aircraft), Aurora (15) and IrAero (7).

Assembly of MS-21 aircraft fuselages at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (Photo: Nina Padalko / RIA Novosti)

Rostec stated that the import-substituting MS-21 is primarily intended for the domestic market, but the state corporation also expects interest from abroad. This is due to the fact that the airliner belongs to the most popular segment - medium-range aircraft. According to the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov, the MS-21 is the most interesting airliner for the international market of all Russian civil aircraft.