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New Russian medium-haul airliner to be ready for tests in a year

More than half of materials and systems of the MS-21 aircraft will be domestic-made, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov says

IRKUTSK, November 14. /TASS/. The Russian medium-haul MS-21 aircraft will be ready for tests in a year, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said during a visit to the Irkutsk-based aircraft-building plant (the Irkut corporation).

“The work is on schedule. It gives confidence that the first assembled model will be ready to begin static tests by the end of 2015 and certificated flight tests in 2016," Manturov said.

More than half of materials and systems of the aircraft will be domestic-made. Work is continuing to replace imported parts by Russian ones and develop avionics, on-board equipment and new composite materials.

“With the use of the Russian engine PD-14, Russian parts will account for more than 50%,” the minister said, adding it could increase to 60% by the beginning of mass production.

The MS-21 (Magistralny Samolet) is a 150-210-seat 5,500-km-range airliner. The mass production is planned to begin in 2017.