Flight testing is progressing at a rapid pace as Yakovlev strives to obtain approval for serial deliveries, as Russia’s import-substituted MC-21-310 continues to progress through one of the most demanding phases of its certification campaign. It is anticipated that the narrow-body airliner, which is intended to serve as the flagship of Russia’s civil aviation industry, will ultimately replace the aging Airbus A320/A321 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft that are currently in service with Russian airlines.
The aircraft’s certification initiative is currently focused on the validation of hundreds of domestically produced systems that replaced foreign components after the original program was disrupted by Western sanctions.
June Testing Demonstrates Higher Flight Tempo
June marked one of the busiest periods of the certification campaign. Two prototype aircraft, MC-21 airframes 73055 (МC.0012) and 73057 (МС.0013), completed a total of 13 flights, which amounted to 46 hours and five minutes, during the month.
The program’s maturation is demonstrated by the testing tempo. During his inspection of the MC-21 at the end of June, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the need for manufacturers to expedite the delivery of import-substituted aircraft and prevent schedule delays. He also emphasized the urgency of the task.
The June flights were primarily concerned with the validation of onboard systems, the confirmation of flight performance characteristics, and the examination of takeoff and landing parameters under operational conditions.
Four flights, totaling 13 hours and 45 minutes, were conducted by aircraft 73055. All of these sorties were designed to assess the aircraft’s navigation and flight management systems. The Flight Management System (FMS), radio navigation equipment, and associated avionics were verified by engineers, who also confirmed that the aircraft exhibited the anticipated flight characteristics during standard operating profiles.
Prototype 73057 conducted nine flights, totaling 32 hours and 20 minutes. The majority of its missions focused on certifying the landing gear. Engineers evaluated the performance of the gear during different operational scenarios, including taxiing, takeoff, landing, and rejected takeoffs. The flight test crew stated that the purpose of these flights was to as closely as possible replicate the operating conditions of a typical airline.
Certification Campaign Advances to 2027
The current certification effort was officially started on June 27, 2025, when aircraft 73055 made its first certification flight from Ramenskoye Airfield under the expanded import-substitution program.
It is expected that two aircraft will conduct approximately 220 to 230 certification flights as part of the overall campaign. Yakovlev will submit the comprehensive technical documentation to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) upon completion of the testing program. The agency will evaluate the evidence prior to approving significant modifications to the aircraft’s current type certificate.
Certification schedules for contemporary commercial aircraft are often lengthy. The Boeing 777X, a major program that has experienced repeated certification delays, is a prime example of the complexity that is involved in validating every aircraft system prior to passenger service, even international.
Rosaviatsiya currently expects that approximately 45 percent of the MC-21 flight certification program has been finalized. The majority of the remaining tasks entail the approval of domestically developed components and the demonstration of their adherence to Russian airworthiness standards. Certain replacement systems have already been certified, while others are still being assessed.
Yakovlev remains committed to obtaining the updated type certificate by June 2027, despite the fact that the government’s broader projections indicate that the entire certification cycle will be completed by the end of 2027. The discrepancy is primarily due to the time required to finalize technical documentation and regulatory reviews, as well as to complete flight testing.
Emphasize Real-World Operating Conditions
The recent certification endeavor has been distinguished by its emphasis on realistic airline operating scenarios, as opposed to isolated laboratory testing.
The June demonstration flights were designed to closely resemble typical airline operations, as per Yakovlev’s flight department. Flight plans included operational contingencies, backup navigation procedures, and alternate airports that crews could encounter during commercial service.
The aircraft’s performance was assessed at a take off weight of 85 tonnes during long-range flights on June 3 and June 4. Additionally, test personnel investigated extended takeoff modes and replicated the failure of one engine shortly after takeoff, which is a critical certification requirement for all twin-engine passenger aircraft.
These evaluations verified that the takeoff distance and climb performance were within the design parameters. The aircraft’s maximum allowable takeoff weight is determined by the demonstration of safe operation following an engine failure, which is one of the most rigorous certification requirements.
According to Pavel Sokut, the Head of Yakovlev’s Flight Test Department, certification standards mandate that the loss of a single engine must not result in catastrophic consequences during any phase of flight, particularly takeoff. It is imperative that this capability be successfully validated prior to the aircraft receiving operational approval.
Landing gear evaluations are ongoing
The certification of landing gear has emerged as one of the primary objectives for aircraft 73057.
On June 10, June 15, and June 17, engineers conducted many runway runs and rejected takeoff tests to assess the reliability of the overall system, the structural behavior of the landing gear, and the braking systems.
Additionally, the aircraft conducted two brief flights that were intended to assess the primary and backup landing gear systems at their maximum operating speeds. Engineers were able to analyze the aircraft’s aerodynamic behavior and structural loads under challenging conditions by accelerating the aircraft to its maximum speed while the landing gear was extended in another test.
The data obtained from these tests is essential for the certification of the landing gear’s performance throughout the aircraft’s operational range.
Navigation and safety systems are currently being assessed
Aircraft 73055 prioritized the validation of the aircraft’s increasingly sophisticated onboard systems, while 73057 concentrated primarily on landing gear work.
The Flight Management System was evaluated by engineers in conjunction with a variety of radio navigation aids, such as ARC, VOR, and DME equipment. SPCAS, the aircraft’s collision avoidance system, was also evaluated in conjunction with the onboard fire suppression systems.
Additional testing encompassed the verification of the Ground Proximity Early Warning System (GPEWS) performance and the range of VHF radio communication, both of which are critical safety systems for commercial airline operations.
Each certified subsystem contributes to the expanding body of evidence that regulators must consider before approving the import-substituted configuration.
Production Progresses Parallel to Certification
Serial production preparations are ongoing concurrently with certification, which remains the program’s immediate priority.
According to the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the production processes have already shifted to serial manufacturing in accordance with the certification schedule. The Irkutsk Aviation Plant is currently in the process of finalizing the first production-standard MC-21 for Aeroflot.
Aeroflot’s current agreement consists of 18 aircraft, all of which are reported to be in the advanced stages of production. Additionally, the parties have substantially resolved negotiations regarding an additional 90 aircraft, which include leasing arrangements. The airline has suggested that its MC-21 fleet could eventually grow to approximately 200 aircraft if production continues as planned.
Delivery schedules are directly dependent on the successful completion of the remaining flight test program, as manufacturing has commenced prior to certification’s conclusion.
Supply chain qualification persists
Certification encompasses the qualification of suppliers who manufacture domestic components, in addition to the aircraft itself.
The Altai Tire Plant was audited by Yakovlev specialists in June, who verified its status as a supplier of aircraft tires for the MC-21-310 program. The audit evaluated its conformity to technical requirements, production documentation, quality management systems, manufacturing processes, and storage procedures.
The facility was deemed generally compliant with Yakovlev’s supplier requirements and continues to be a part of the aircraft’s domestic supply chain, despite the fact that auditors identified two significant issues that necessitated corrective action.
Validation of Performance and Range
Additionally, performance testing has yielded favorable outcomes.
Vadim Badekha, CEO of UAC, recently announced that the MC-21’s operational range will shortly be increased to approximately 4,000 kilometers. He also stated that it is technically feasible to make additional range enhancements and that this capability would include approximately 80 to 90 percent of the current airline route networks.
Another critical component of the certification campaign is the range verification, which guarantees that the aircraft can satisfy airline operational requirements while operating with its new domestically produced systems.
Testing Continues to Be the Critical Path of the Program
Certification testing continues to be the determining factor for the MC-21-310’s entry into commercial service, despite the progress of production preparations, supplier qualification, and airline contracts.
Yakovlev intends to obtain the revised type certificate in 2027, which will facilitate the delivery of Russia’s first completely import-substituted narrow-body airliner, provided that the current timelines are maintained. The MC-21 program will continue to prioritize the certification campaign and the successful validation of all domestic replacement systems until that time.