Aeroflot orders 323 Russian aircraft

The mega-order is set to include 73 Sukhoi Superjets, 210 Irkut MC-21s and 40 Tupolev Tu-214s, and is part of the company’s “main priority”: the transition from foreign-made aircraft to domestically manufactured ones.

The plan was announced in a meeting between the CEO of Aeroflot Sergey Alexandrovsky and Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia. While no timeline was given for an order confirmation or delivery, both Putin and Aleksandrovsky agree that “there has not been such an order” in the history of Russian aviation.

Aleksandrovsky says the “significant” order will also require “additional resources” from the airline, with at least 3,500 pilots to be hired, and an additional eight full-flight simulators.

Aeroflot has been rumoured to be eyeing a significant Russian aircraft order, as Western sanctions – relating to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – have effectively ended the airline’s ability to access support from Western airframers, such as Boeing and Airbus. They have required Russia to produce homegrown composite materials, develop radio and intercom equipment, and shift all focus to domestically produced parts and materials, including sourcing new engines for the upcoming order.

This follows previous announcements by Russian officials about United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which owns the majority of Russia’s aerospace manufacturers, significantly expanding its production.

According to UAC’s parent company, Rostec, Russia plans to manufacture over 110 commercial aircraft by 2025 and over 500 by 2030. The numbers, if reached, would mark a significant rise in the country’s aircraft production in comparison with previous years.

Photo from Wikipedia: Could we see newly built Ilyushins 96 again soon?