Russian Aviation Insider Aerospace

Rosaviatsia has granted Yakovlev (part of the United Aircraft Corporation, UAC) approval for a major amendment to the type certificate of the Russian medium-range aircraft MC-21, which provides for the use of import-substituted composite materials in the vertical fin and horizontal stabilizer.

Obtaining this approval marks the completion of a key stage of import substitution and a series of works on integrating Russian composites into the MC-21 structure, the regulator stated.

The serial production of fin and stabilizer box structure from domestic composite materials is carried out by KAPO-Composite (part of the Aerocomposite company, itself part of Yakovlev).

"We have completely freed the aircraft from foreign materials and confirmed the reliability of domestic alternatives during testing. A large cooperation of scientific centers and manufacturing enterprises was involved in this work," Vadim Badeha, UAC CEO stated.

In 2022, Rosaviatsia approved the use of wings made from domestic composite materials on the MC-21.

The need to create domestic materials arose in the Russian at the end of 2018, when foreign suppliers of raw materials for composite production — the US’ Hexcel Corporation and the Japan’s Toray Industries — stopped deliveries to Aerocomposite and ONPP Tekhnologiya, Russian composite manufacturers, after the latter were added to the US Department of Commerce's sanctions list.

Currently, several MC-21-310 prototype aircraft with varying degrees of import substitution are undergoing certification tests. The certification of the fully Russian modification is planned to be completed by the end of 2026.

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has expanded its aerospace manufacturing strategy in India by confirming plans to assemble the Russified Superjet 100 (SJ-100) regional jet and identifying a potential partner for the IL-114-300 turboprop. These strategic developments were announced during the Wings India air show in Hyderabad.

UAC and its longstanding partner, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), have reaffirmed their commitment to launch licensed assembly of the SJ-100 in India following a memorandum signed in October 2025. This updated agreement establishes joint management bodies and defines specific operational roles.

Under the partnership, HAL will lead the certification process for the SJ-100 within India and will hold the license to produce, sell, and maintain the jet, including its primary components. In exchange, UAC will provide the technical expertise necessary to adapt Indian production facilities for the SJ-100 assembly line.

While a final contract date has not been set, the collaboration builds upon the successful history of HAL producing Su-30MKI fighters under Russian license.

HAL estimates local demand for approximately 550 aircraft of the Superjet’s class over the next decade, primarily to support the Indian government's UDAN program for improved regional connectivity.

Because the 100-seat Superjet is considered too large for certain UDAN routes, UAC has also entered a separate strategic partnership with the Indian startup Flamingo Aerospace. This venture involves a preliminary order for six 60-seat IL-114-300 turboprops, with deliveries slated to begin in 2028.

Currently, UAC is finalizing certification testing for both the SJ-100 and the IL-114-300, with initial deliveries to Russian customers expected to start in 2026.

The flight range of the import-substituted MC-21-310 passenger aircraft is projected to meet its original design target of 5,000 km by 2029, according to First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. In an interview with Vedomosti newspaper, he attributed the anticipated performance gain primarily to reductions in the aircraft's weight.

This development addresses a previously disclosed performance gap. In September, the narrowbody plane's developer, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), indicated on its website that the Russified aircraft in a 175-passenger configuration would initially achieve a range of approximately 3,800 km—significantly less than the originally advertised 5,100 km.

Manturov insisted that even the current iteration of the MC-21, with its average range of 3,000 km, is suitable for the majority of domestic routes served by Russian carriers. Regarding longer-haul services, such as those to the Russian Far East, he noted that the existing fleet of western-made aircraft currently fulfills this role and is expected to remain operational for the foreseeable future.

A dual-strategy for the market

In parallel, the government official announced plans for a shortened-fuselage variant, the MC-21-200, targeted for development by the same 2029 deadline. This model, estimated to be six to seven tonnes lighter with a capacity for 140 passengers, is also designed for a 5,000 km range. Manturov suggested that market demand would ultimately dictate the necessity for two distinct MC-21 modifications offering similar range capabilities.

Certification pathway

The program's current focus remains on certification. Two MC-21-310 prototypes, featuring varying levels of Russian-made components, are undergoing official testing. Sergey Chemezov, head of Rostec—UAC's parent state corporation—stated in late December that certification for the fully import-substituted variant is slated for completion by the end of 2026.

The original MC-21-300, powered by the US-produced engines and equipped with Western systems, received its type certificate in December 2021. However, its production was halted following the withdrawal of international suppliers from the program in 2022 due to sanctions, necessitating the accelerated development of a fully Russian version.