President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced visit Friday to the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Siberia, home to Russia’s long-delayed MC-21 passenger jet. The Kremlin said Putin toured the facility and was shown one fully assembled MC-21, while 18 MC-21-310 aircraft are currently under construction.
Development of the MC-21 began in 2009, with mass production originally slated for 2016. That timeline has been repeatedly pushed back. State defense conglomerate Rostec now aims to complete certification by late 2026, with commercial flights expected months later.
Putin was accompanied by Irkutsk region Governor Igor Kobzev and Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov. Footage released by state-run TASS showed Putin inspecting the aircraft’s interior, with plant CEO Andrei Soynov describing the cabin as ‘a comfortable size for passengers.’
Russia’s efforts to build its own commercial fleet have stalled as companies struggle to replace Western components cut off by sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Putin will next travel to Omsk for an event with Kazakh authorities.
Article and image source: themoscowtimes.com
