Moscow, — Russian flag carrier Aeroflot has signed a contract for the supply and long-term technical support of 90 domestically produced MC-21-310 medium-haul passenger aircraft. The agreement, signed in Moscow on Friday, is described as the largest contract in Russian civil aviation history for the supply and after-sales support of Russian-built passenger aircraft.
The contract was signed by Aeroflot and three companies of the state-owned Rostec Corporation — the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), United Engine Corporation (UEC) and leasing company Aviakapital-Service. Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the ceremony via video link from Sheremetyevo Airport. Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov and Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin also attended.
Under the agreement, the 90 MC-21-310 aircraft will be delivered between 2029 and 2032. Aeroflot is scheduled to receive 14 aircraft in 2029, 18 in 2030, 24 in 2031 and 34 in 2032.
The order is in addition to an earlier 2023 contract for 18 MC-21 aircraft. Those aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028, with the first eight expected in the fourth quarter of 2027 and the remaining 10 in 2028. Together, the two contracts cover 108 MC-21 aircraft.
The comprehensive agreement includes the aircraft, flight and procedural simulators, training for pilots, flight attendants and technical personnel, maintenance software and 22 years of full after-sales technical support for all 108 aircraft from their respective delivery dates.
MC-21-310 Aircraft
The MC-21-310 is a narrow-body, medium-haul passenger aircraft with a maximum capacity of 211 passengers in a single-class configuration. In a typical two-class layout with around 175 seats, its stated maximum range is 3,830 km.
The aircraft features a wider cabin and aisle, larger windows and increased overhead-bin space. The MC-21-310 is powered by the Russian-made PD-14 turbofan engine and uses domestically produced composite materials for its wing and tail.
The fully localized version is expected to receive certification in 2027. Seventeen aircraft intended for Aeroflot are already at different stages of assembly at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, according to the information provided.
Aeroflot to Become Launch Operator
Aeroflot will serve as the launch operator of the MC-21-310. The airline plans to begin training pilots, flight attendants and engineers for the aircraft.
Aeroflot CEO Sergey Alexandrovsky said the airline is ready to train personnel for the new aircraft and welcomed Aeroflot's role as its launch operator. The first aircraft are planned for short domestic routes, including Moscow–St. Petersburg and Moscow–Nizhny Novgorod, where technical support can be provided.
Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov said production of each aircraft takes between 1.5 and two years and that the long-term order provides a clear production workload for moving toward steady serial production.
UAC CEO Vadim Badekha said UAC plans a strategic partnership with Aeroflot for the introduction of the aircraft into service. UAC will also handle maintenance of the MC-21 fleet delivered to Aeroflot.
The contract is part of Russia's broader programme to develop domestic civil aviation and reduce reliance on foreign-built passenger aircraft. The MC-21-310 is intended to become a core aircraft type for Aeroflot's medium-haul fleet in the coming years.
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