The MS-21-310 airliner: the future flagship of Russian aviation. What is it, and what are the prospects for the family’s development?
The MC-21, which stands for “21st-Century Mainline Aircraft,” is Russia’s newest passenger airliner, classified as a medium-range, narrow-body aircraft. The aircraft is being developed and manufactured by PAO Yakovlev, a subsidiary of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).
According to the plan, this model is intended to serve as the basis for an entire family of aircraft, varying in size and passenger capacity. To date, the largest model undergoing testing is the MC-21-310. In this article, we will focus specifically on this model, as it will likely be the first to enter service with airlines, and we will also examine the entire family to understand how one variant differs from another.
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Specifications of the MC-21-310 Aircraft
According to UAC’s plans, the family includes several variants. As of August 2025, two main variants have been developed: the MC-21-310, equipped with a Russian PD-14 engine, and the MC-21-300, which uses an American Pratt & Whitney PW1400G powerplant.
Following the imposition of sweeping sanctions, priority was given to developing the first version, which uses exclusively domestic components and systems. The maximum range of this airliner is 5,100 km. The MS-21-300, however, has a longer range, reaching 6,000 km.
The aircraft has a capacity of 163 seats in a standard two-class configuration (147 economy-class seats and 16 business-class seats), as well as 211 seats in a single-class configuration.
- Fuselage width: 4.06 m
- Cruising speed: 870 km/h
- Maximum interior width: 3.81 m
- Length: 42.25 m
- Wingspan: 35.9 m
- Length: 42.25 m
- Maximum takeoff weight: 85 metric tons
- Height: 11.45 m
- Engines of the MC-21 Aircraft
Initially, two engine options were planned for the MC-21, to be selected by the customer: the Russian PD-14 and the American Pratt & Whitney PW1400G. The American engine was certified in 2016 and was installed on the aircraft’s first prototypes.
Furthermore, it was expected that the first production aircraft would be equipped with PW1400G engines, and that production of models with PD-14 engines would begin later. However, in March 2022, Pratt & Whitney halted engine deliveries due to sanctions, as a result of which the MS-21s will be equipped exclusively with Russian engines.
The PD-14 is a turbofan engine with a thrust of 14 metric tons. The lead developer is ODK-Aviadvigatel, and the manufacturer is ODK-Perm Motors (both part of the United Engine Corporation, ODK).
Development of the engine began in 2008. In the fall of 2018, it was certified, marking the first official certification of a Russian aircraft engine in 30 years. In April 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade allocated more than 14 billion rubles to improve the engine.
Development and Testing Phases
The MS-21 is assembled at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (part of PJSC “Yakovlev”). Some components are supplied from plants located in other regions. Specifically, composite wing components are manufactured by the Kazan-based company “KAPO-Composite” and the Ulyanovsk-based plant “Aerocomposite.”
The Future of the MC-21 Aircraft
According to the comprehensive civil aviation development program, 270 MC-21-310 aircraft will be delivered to airlines by the end of 2030. The largest customer is the Aeroflot Group, which will receive 108 aircraft by that date, although 210 were originally planned for delivery in 2022. Another 92 aircraft will be delivered to airlines by 2032. Other buyers include Smartavia (45 aircraft), Aurora (15), and IrAero (7).
Variants of the MC-21 Airliner
MC-21-200: The base model, with a seating capacity of 160 to 211 seats. It is powered by American-made Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engines. The first flight took place on May 28, 2017; six aircraft have been built. The range under normal commercial load is between 3,500 and 5,200 km.
MC-21-210: Similar to the MC-21-200, but equipped with Russian PD-14 engines.
MC-21-300LR: A variant of the MC-21-300 with an extended range of up to 12,000 km and Russian PD-18R engines.
MC-21-400: An extended version of the MC-21-310 with a capacity of up to 256 seats in a single-class configuration. It is planned to be equipped with PD-14M engines.
MC-21-400LR: A variant of the MC-21-400 with an extended range of up to 12,000 km and PD-18R engines.
MC-21-500/(600, 700): Future variants of the MC-21, the specifications for which have not yet been determined. However, it appears that the flagship models of the MC-21 aircraft series will be found among the aircraft in these series.
Flight and technical specifications of the various models:
Based on material from — https://www1.ru/articles/2025/08/29/novyi-ms-21-310-cto-za-samolet-xarakteristiki-perspektivy-i-rol-v-rossiiskoi-aviacii.html
