Russian domestic aviation industry expansion

Russia is working to expand its domestic aviation capabilities through airport modernization and the production of locally manufactured aircraft in response to Western sanctions.

Initial reports indicated that President Vladimir Putin announced plans for the delivery of the first MS-21 aircraft, composed entirely of Russian parts, to Aeroflot as early as 2027. This initiative is part of a broader government goal to modernize at least 75 airports by 2030. In a major development, Aeroflot and the state conglomerate Rostec signed a contract for 90 MC-21-310 aircraft, described as the “largest civil aviation deal in Russian history.” Deliveries under this specific agreement are scheduled to run from 2029 through 2032.

As of late September 2026, the MS-21-310 has completed only 30% of its testing program and has yet to receive the flight certification required for commercial operation. While aviation expert Oleg Panteleev of Aviaport suggests the aircraft’s design and cabin space may surpass competitors such as the Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo, and China’s C919, the project remains in a pre-commercial stage. Pilot Oleg Smirnov noted that the aircraft cannot be considered a finished product until official certification is obtained.

Industry experts continue to warn of significant logistical hurdles. Drawing parallels to the Sukhoi Superjet, observers note that the previous model’s primary failure was a “severe lack of after-sales technical support and spare parts.” The long-term success of the MS-21-310 will depend on establishing a robust maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) ecosystem and reliable component logistics to prevent widespread flight disruptions.