During his meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chemezov stated, “Our ‘Superjet’ aircraft have become completely independent of foreign components and are currently undergoing certification test flights. We plan to start their serial production in 2026. The same situation applies to the ‘Il-114’ aircraft.
He added, “Rostec’s helicopter repair facilities are spread across Russia, providing services for all Rostec helicopters. The company intends to install new rotors on ‘Ansat’ helicopters to improve their technical performance. Rostec has also developed the ‘VK-650V’ engine, which will be used in ‘Ansat’ and ‘Mi-34’ helicopters.
Mishustin said, “This should be done considering, among other things, the macroeconomic situation. I think it would be great if we studied this model thoroughly to the end. Perhaps we should support some other fuel options. All of this must be discussed in the government.”
He noted that “Russians are waiting for domestic aircraft, emphasizing that everything must be safe during their production.” In April, the aircraft took off from its factory in Irkutsk and successfully flew for one hour and 15 minutes, having been fitted with Russian fuel and air conditioning, abandoning the Western components it had used for eight years.
The ‘MS-21’ aircraft is a significant step in aviation, demonstrating Russia’s ability to compete in the global civil aviation market and compensate for reliance on Western aircraft, especially after sanctions.
