On April 28, 2025, a prototype of the medium-haul passenger aircraft MS-21, equipped with new Russian systems and units, successfully completed its first flight. This was reported by the state corporation Rostec. The aircraft took off from the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, which is part of PJSC Yakovlev of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The flight lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes, the airliner rose to an altitude of 3000 meters and developed a speed of 580 km/h. During the tests, the operation of domestic avionics, power supply systems, air conditioning, navigation and other units were checked. All systems, including new Russian ones, worked without any problems, which became an important step in the import substitution program and preparation of the MS-21 for serial production.

The MS-21 is a Russian medium-haul narrow-body airliner developed by Yakovlev Corporation (formerly Irkut) to compete with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The program, which began in 2007, initially envisaged the use of foreign components, including Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engines and composite materials from the American Hexcel and Japanese Toray Industries. However, sanctions imposed by the United States in 2018 against Aerocomposit (part of UAC) forced Russia to localize production. According to Rostec Executive Director Oleg Yevtushenko, the new MS-21 replaces about 80 foreign systems, including avionics, computers, and control systems. This reduces dependence on foreign supplies and brings the aircraft closer to certification, scheduled for 2025–2026.

The first flight was an important step in the import substitution program, which was intensified after the 2022 sanctions caused by the conflict in Ukraine. As Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov noted, the share of composites in the MS-21 design reaches 30-40%, which is a record figure for medium-haul aircraft. The wing made of Russian composites, developed by Aerocomposite, first took to the air in December 2021, and in 2022, Rosaviatsia approved the MS-21 with domestic PD-14 engines. The new model, according to Rostec, is equipped with PD-14, which makes it completely independent of Western power plants.

The tests showed the stability of all systems, including new avionics and software developed for automatic control from PD-14. In June 2024, the MS-21 already demonstrated automatic landing capabilities according to ICAO Category IIIA, which allows landing with visibility of 200 meters. The flight on April 28 confirmed the controllability and stability of the airliner, which was noted by the crew of test pilots from PJSC Yakovlev.

Serial production of the MS-21 is planned to begin in 2026, although the deadlines have been repeatedly postponed due to sanctions and technical difficulties. Aeroflot Group signed a contract for the delivery of 210 aircraft, of which the first six are to be delivered in December 2024 - January 2025, but, according to Chemezov, the deadlines may be postponed to 2026 due to the airframe being overweight by 5,75 tons, which reduced the flight range to 2-2,8 thousand km. Ural Airlines also ordered 38 airliners for delivery in 2029-2030.

The MS-21 is positioned as a competitor to Western analogues thanks to its wide fuselage (4,06 m), providing increased comfort for 163–211 passengers, and a composite wing, which improves aerodynamics.