'All-Russian' MC-21 and SJ-100 commercial jets to fly this half-year
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is preparing to fly prototypes of the MC-21-310 and SJ-100 commercial jets with only Russian-sourced components this half-year, Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Industry and Trade, told local media.
“The first flights of airplanes with the complete import phaseout, the MC-21 with the PD-14 engine and the SJ-100 with the PD-8 engine, are planned during the first six months of the year. Certification flight tests will follow,” Alikhanov said.
Originally developed in partnership with Western suppliers, the aircraft had to have their designs changed after sanctions were imposed due to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.
However, the replacement has been a long time coming, amid the country’s aerospace industry’s focus on supplying military aircraft and upgrading older planes.
The Russian government’s latest target is to begin final assembly of the commercial jets by 2026. Despite this, the minister said there are currently 13 MC-21s and 20 SJ-100s in various stages of completion.
The MC-21-310 can carry up to 211 passengers and is powered by the PD-14 engine instead of the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G. The SJ-100 is a ‘Russified’ variant of the SuperJet 100, which flew with the SaM-146 engine.
UAC is finalizing the assembly of a prototype of the aircraft with the PD-8 turbofan, as shown in a recent video released by the company.
Like its predecessor, the SJ-100 has around 100 seats and is aimed at the regional aviation market.
About the Author
Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
