Russia

Russia unveils competitor to Boeing and Airbus

cde.news desk 28 August 2019, 14:59 · 1 min read

epa07797630 Russian passenger plane Irkut MS-21-300 in flight during the MAKS-2019 International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky outside Moscow, Russia, 27 August 2019. MAKS-2019 International Aviation and Space Salon runs from 27 August to 01 September. EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

Russia unveiled on Wednesday its new passenger plane MC-21, billed as a competitor to Boeing and Airbus even as the project is overshadowed by sanctions and setbacks with its predecessor, the Superjet.

The medium-haul MC-21, which is produced by Siberian-based manufacturer Irkut and seats up to 211 passengers, is the industry’s big hope after setbacks with the regional Sukhoi Superjet 100 liner, launched in 2011 as the first post-Soviet civilian airplane.

President Vladimir Putin formally opened the MAKS air salon outside Moscow Tuesday with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was enticed with Sukhoi fighter jets.

Russian passenger plane Irkut MS-21-300 in flight during the MAKS-2019 International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky outside Moscow. EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

The showpiece of this year’s MAKS is the new civilian aircraft, which will be formally shown to potential clients after more than a decade in the making and multiple delays.

Russia will also showcased for the first time its Su-57 fighter on Wednesday.