Russia will test MC-21 aircraft equipped with purely domestic components this summer.
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Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov announced that Russia will begin testing a version of the MC-21 civilian aircraft, equipped entirely with Russian-made components, this summer. During a meeting with the Committee on Economic Policy of the Federation Council, the minister said: "Next August, experts from the United Aircraft Corporation plan to conduct flight tests on a model of the MC-21 aircraft, equipped with components all made in Russia, and all systems of this aircraft will be domestically made." The minister pointed out that Russia had previously begun granting certification to MC-21 civilian aircraft equipped with the Russian PD-14 engine and some imported components. He added: "Work is also currently underway on plans to certify flights for Russian Superjet civilian aircraft, and this is scheduled to be completed this year." MC-21 aircraft are civilian aircraft developed by Russia for short and medium-range flights, designed to carry between 150 and 211 passengers. Russia has conducted several tests of the domestically produced PD-14 and PD-21R engines for use with these aircraft. Russia seeks to have these aircraft equipped entirely with domestically made components, to dispense with imported foreign components. Some time ago, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, part of the Yakovlev company, announced that it had developed a design for the cabin of these aircraft, including seats and components made entirely in Russia. Source: Interfax + Russian agencies