Air TransportRussia patents new widebody airliner design after withdrawal from CR929 program
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Russia’s state-owned aerospace conglomerate, has filed a patent for a new widebody long-haul aircraft, provisionally named WBLA. The design envisions a jet capable of flying up to 13,600 km (8,450 nm) with seating configurations ranging from 236 to 320 passengers.
The move comes after Russia withdrew from the joint CR929 program with China in 2023, leaving COMAC to continue the project under the new name C929.
For Moscow, developing an indigenous widebody is less about immediate market competition and more about safeguarding long-term autonomy in an industry heavily affected by international sanctions and restricted access to global supply chains.
Currently, Russian airlines rely almost entirely on Western-built widebodies such as the Boeing 777, 767 and Airbus A330 for long-haul operations. The Ilyushin Il-96, Russia’s only in-production widebody, is considered obsolete in terms of fuel efficiency, emissions and operating costs, with usage limited mainly to government transport.
According to the Russian media, the WBLA will feature extensive use of composite materials to lower weight and improve efficiency, following global trends established by the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350. Three variants are planned: WBLA-500 (236 seats), WBLA-600 (281) and WBLA-700 (320).
So far, no official details have been released on engines, development partners or a certification timeline. Industry experts note that beyond the technical challenge, Russia will face significant hurdles in achieving production scale and global support, both essential to compete in the market.
“This is a strategic effort to keep Russia’s ambition for a domestic widebody alive—something the Il-96 can no longer fulfill,” a source in the Russian aerospace sector told local media.
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