Irkut MC-21 and Yak-130 programme updates

Towards the end of 2013, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogoz disclosed that the Irkut MC-21 airliner would be designated as the Yak-242 once the type goes into series production. The Yak-242 designation was originally slated for a 130- to 180- seat twin-engine airliner proposal dating back to the early 1990s, which proposal never saw fruition but was eventually evolved into the MC-21. Thus this announcement is seen as an acknowledgement to the genesis of the MC-21 programme.

Rogozin made the announcement during his visit to the Irkut plant “to verify the preparedness of the Russian aircraft industry to meet not only state defence orders but to develop civil products”. He was accompanied by Irkut chief Oleg Demchenko, and were shown initial assemblies for the first prototype MC-21 during the visit.

Irkut is set to reveal the first MC-21 prototype in mid-2015, EASA certification followed by first deliveries are planned in 2017. Production will take place at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, which has undergone extensive modernisation. The total development programme cost is about $ 5 billion, of which the Russian government is providing $ 2.8 billion. Internal funds from Irkut and other programme participants amounts to $1.7 billion.

Irkut’s parent company United Aircraft Corporation ( UAC) has reported that Russian and foreign companies have signed contracts for more than 250 MC- 21s, including 135 as firm commitments.

During his visit to the Irkutsk aircraft manufacturing plant December 2013, which makes Yak-130 combat trainers, Lieutenant General Viktor Bondarev, Commander- in- Chief of the Russian Air Force, announced that the RuAF is planning to order an additional batch of Yak-130s.

The current contract with Irkut Corporation, which manufactures the trainers is for 55 Yak-130s, of which a total of 42 aircraft have been delivered so far, with first deliveries beginning in 2009.

Lt Gen Bondarev said “it is certain” that a new contract for additional Yak-130 deliveries would be signed and also confirmed that the Russian Air Force would soon form a new aerobatics team flying Yak-130s.