The Russian passenger aircraft MS-21 should be certified and will go into production by the end of 2024, said Sergey Chemezov, CEO of the Rostec state corporation, in an interview with RIA Novosti.
“The MS-21 program is actually at the finish line today.
We solved the problem with the engine, with the "black wing".
Rosaviatsia has received approval for the main changes to the standard design associated with the installation of the PD-14 and the wing made of Russian composites.
In 2023, we plan to start testing other systems as part of the aircraft in order to certify a fully Russian aircraft by the end of 2024 and begin mass production.
Some of these systems are already undergoing bench tests,” Chemezov said.
According to him, it is the aircraft industry that is the priority among the civil projects of Rostec this year.
“The country needs its own aircraft - modern and in large numbers, in order to forget about Boeing and Airbus forever.
I have already spoken about the MS-21, another project is the import substitution of the Sukhoi Superjet,” recalled the head of the state corporation.
“This year we expect to complete the entire range of tests of the PD-8 engine to obtain a type certificate, and then complete testing of this engine as part of an aircraft.
Similarly, with other systems and units ... The task is very difficult, our airlines are working at the limit.
In such terms, no one in the world has implemented such projects,” Chemezov stressed.
Completely Russian aircraft
The Irkut Corporation (part of Rostec) is developing the MS-21 medium-haul passenger aircraft with a capacity of 163 to 211 passengers.
Initially, it was assumed that their mass production was supposed to begin approximately in 2019-2020, but due to Western sanctions, the project had to be postponed.
Cabin MS-21
RIA News
© Alexey Kudenko
In 2018, the United States imposed a ban on the supply of composite materials to Russia, which are used in the construction of the liner.
As a result, the production of composites had to be established in the Russian Federation, which took some time.
In 2022, the release dates for the series had to be changed again, after it became known that American power units for the MS-21 would not be supplied to Russia.
Recall that it was originally assumed that the first serial liners would fly on American PW1400G-JM engines.
In parallel with this, it was planned to complete work on the Russian unit PD-14.
This would allow customers to choose between two engines.
However, as a result of Washington's steps, the MS-21 with PD-14 will immediately go into the series.
“Serial production of MS-21 aircraft was scheduled for 2019.
However, due to Western sanctions, the deadline was postponed twice.
There were problems, in particular with the composite wing, despite the fact that the technology itself was Russian - the United States supplied only materials.
Because of this, we had to build a whole factory, create new materials and test the wing in a new way.
The designers were also forced to replace some of the electronics, ”Roman Gusarov, editor-in-chief of the Avia.Ru portal, said in an interview with RT.
At the same time, according to him, in the future, Western sanctions will no longer be able to interfere with the implementation of this project.
“MS-21 will be a completely Russian aircraft, so sanctions will no longer interfere.
As a result, Russia will become virtually the only country in the world in whose territory the production of civil aircraft will be completely localized.
Even in the US, there is no such thing: Boeing buys some parts abroad, ”Gusarov explained.
Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation, retired Major General Vladimir Popov also expressed confidence that the Russian aviation industry would be able to launch the MS-21 into series by the scheduled date.
“Next year is a real time.
The aircraft has already been certified, tested and has the production and technological potential for manufacturing.
There are factories, components.
There are control systems, experience in building composite wings and a new Russian PD-14 engine.
However, it will take time to start producing, for example, 20 aircraft annually, ”the analyst said in a comment to RT.
"Successful replacement of key elements"
At the end of December 2022, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade announced that the MS-21 with Russian PD-14 engines and a domestic composite wing received approval documents from Rosaviatsia.
“The main liner MS-21 received approval for the main changes in the design: this confirms the successful replacement of the key elements of the aircraft with Russian ones - our PD-14 engine and a completely domestic wing structure,” explained Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov.
MS-21 in the livery of the airline "Russia"
© Rostec
Now the aircraft will have to go through a pilot joint operation program, which will be carried out by the Irkut Corporation and the Rossiya airline.
As part of this process, training will be provided for flight instructors and flight instructors.
It is also planned to work out operational procedures and gain experience in air transportation on typical airliner routes.
In total, three experimental MS-21 aircraft will take part in the program, which will be based at the Ramenskoye airfield, where the flight test and development complex of the OKB im.
A.S.
Yakovlev.
Along with this, work is underway in Russia to expand the production of engines in order to provide the MS-21 with the necessary number of power units.
In November last year, it became known that the United Engine Corporation was increasing the production capacity of the UEC-Saturn enterprise in Rybinsk, which is involved in cooperation to create PD-14 engines.
In 2025, a new production building for 250 machines will be put into operation.
According to Rostec specialists, by 2029 this will allow increasing the production of parts and assemblies for serial assembly up to 160 engines annually.
In addition, from 2027, the Rybinsk enterprise will become the lead organization for the repair of power plants for the MS-21.
On the way to abandon the Western aviation industry
According to Roman Gusarov, the implementation of the MS-21 project gave a powerful impetus to the development of the entire Russian aviation industry, which has mastered new competencies in recent years.
“It is difficult to overestimate the significance of this project for Russian civil aviation.
With his appearance, he literally raised the domestic passenger aviation industry from its knees.
This project is a key one for the future of civil aviation in Russia,” the expert said.
According to him, the MS-21 is intended for use in the niche of medium-haul aircraft that is most in demand on the market.
“Earlier, we had Tu-154s with such aircraft.
In fact, the MS-21 is a modern Tu-154, as it is in the same market niche and covers the most massive segment of civilian transportation,” the analyst said.
Salon MS-21
RIA News
© Alexey Kudenko
Gusarov stressed that the gradual abandonment of Western aircraft, which Sergei Chemezov spoke about, is inevitable.
“The way to abandon the Western aviation industry is already obvious.
The need for such a decision was clearly shown by the events of 2022.
And Russia will not turn off this course.
The fact is that the Russian Federation is a huge country with harsh climatic conditions.
And without its aviation industry, the state simply cannot exist.
Many regional-class aircraft that we need are simply not produced abroad.
For example, there are no aircraft that could be operated in the Russian North, ”the specialist explained.
The experience of the USSR proves that the Russian aviation industry can independently meet all the needs of the domestic market, Vladimir Popov believes.
“In the foreseeable future, it will be possible to replace all Western aircraft with domestic ones.
The USSR already had such experience: the vast majority of aircraft on the lines of the USSR were Soviet.
They were designed and built in the Union.
Moving away from Western supplies will allow us to gain sovereignty in the air transportation market, at least within the country,” the analyst concluded.