Initial delivery dates reportedly slip across key Russian civil aircraft programmes

Serial deliveries of several new Russian aircraft types – including the Yakovlev MC-21, SJ-100 and Ilyushin Il-114-300 – have been postponed, according to a number of media outlets in the country. Russian president Vladimir Putin, during an address to the federal assembly on 29 February, only briefly mentioned the civil aircraft industry, noting plans to modernise at least 75 airports in six years. “It is also necessary to update the fleet of our airlines using our own domestic aircraft,” he added. “They must meet all modern requirements for quality, convenience and safety – a difficult task. “[Russia’s air transport industry] bought too much [capability] abroad, but did not develop their own production.” While Putin did not refer to specific domestic aircraft programmes, Russian business publication Kommersant says the MC-21, SJ-100 and Il-114 deliveries are being pushed back by up to two years, to 2025-26. It adds that there are delays to the Tupolev Tu-214 and UZGA LMS-901. It claims the domestically-powered version of the MC-21 has increased in weight, reducing its range performance, as a result of using domestic equipment and composites, citing its own sources.<br/>