Russia: foreign manufacturers refuse to supply components for the Irkut MC-21

Foreign manufacturers of components used for the Irkut MC-21 have refused to supply components for the model, according to Denis Manturov, Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade. The decision even affects pre-paid orders.

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The move, which comes on top of restrictions received by the country after the start of its invasion of Ukraine, will impact aircraft deliveries. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the Russian corporation supporting and strengthening the aviation industry, would deliver two aircraft this year, instead of the four planned.

According to Manturov: «We are denied the supply of components used for the Irkut MC-21 in the framework of our extensive international cooperation. At the same time, even prepaid orders are now frozen and not delivered. And there is no explanation».

In an extended context of sanctions, Russia was already working on import substitution. Recently, the model obtained certification for its wings from Russian composite materials. However, the new measures could affect the MC-21’s entry into service date, scheduled for September 2022.

The Minister also referred to the production of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 and said that the plan is to certify the free of imported components version of the aircraft in 2023. In that case, deliveries to Russian airlines would begin in 2024.

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According to the official, UAC has enough foreign parts and components to continue the production of up to nineteen SSJ-100s. «We are bringing them to airworthiness and they will also be delivered to our Russian operators», he said.

Russia is also studying the possibility of increasing the production rate of the Tu-204 Tupolevs to ten units per year.

See also: Russia readies SSJ100 locally-sourced parts deployment