UAC to Sign 90 MC-21 Aeroflot Deal in 2026
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which is part of Rostec, intends in the first quarter of 2026 to sign a contract with Aeroflot for the supply of 90 MC-21 aircraft. This was reported by TASS citing UAC head Vadim Badekha.
«Today the first firm contract has been signed for the first batch of aircraft. The second batch is being discussed. This is a contract for 90 aircraft. We expect that all technical issues have already been resolved and we think in the first quarter, in April, such signing possibilities (will be — TASS note)», — Vadim Badekha is quoted as saying.
Recall that in 2023 a contract was signed with Aeroflot for the supply of the first 18 aircraft, which are being assembled at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. The second contract — for 90 aircraft — was planned to be signed by the end of 2025. Additionally, in June 2025, representatives of Aeroflot stated that they want to increase the number of MC-21s in their fleet to 200 aircraft by 2033.
As Kommersant clarifies, Aeroflot expects the first batch of 108 MC-21 aircraft by 2030 and almost as many by 2033.
Also, according to the publication, current plans call for the production of over 540 MC-21 aircraft by 2030, as well as SJ 100 and Tu-214, which Aeroflot has abandoned.
The MC-21 is a new-generation medium-haul passenger aircraft with a capacity of 163 to 211 passengers. Its first flight took place on 28 May 2017, and on 15 December 2020 the aircraft flew for the first time with the Russian PD-14 engine. Initially, it was expected that the first six production MC-21 aircraft with the domestically produced PD-14 engine would be delivered to customers in 2024. Serial production of the MC-21 was also to begin then. However, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov later stated that production of the aircraft is being delayed by 1–2 years due to Western sanctions.
Two MC-21 aircraft with import-substituted components are currently undergoing testing in Zhukovsky (Moscow Oblast). As part of certification, the aircraft even fly to remote corners of the country, for example to Vorkuta (Komi Republic). It is expected that certification will be completed by the end of 2026, and in 2027 the transfer of the first aircraft to Russian carriers will begin.
In addition, UAC is developing a new aircraft, the MC-21-500, which will be able to fly across the entire country. Most likely, it will use the advanced PD-26 engine. There is also the possibility of a shortened version of the MC-21.
