Alikhanov announced plans to conduct flights of import-substituted MS-21 in spring

The first flights of the fully import-substituted Russian aircraft MS-21 will take place in March-April 2025. This was announced by the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Anton Alikhanov on November 21.

"At the end of March - early April, flights will begin already in the fully import-substituted MS-21 look," he said in an interview with Rossiya-24 TV channel.

At the same time, certification flights on the fully domestic PD-14 engine are scheduled for the beginning of 2025, Alikhanov specified.

He also pointed out that Russia needs its own wide-body airplane, and now the development of such a model with PD-35 engines is underway. According to the minister's estimation, this work will be completed after 2030.

Earlier, on November 20, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that deliveries of the MS-21 medium-range passenger jet to airlines are expected to begin in 2025. Plans to start serial production of the MS-21 next year were also confirmed in October by Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov.