Producers deny Russia MC-21 component shipments

MOSCOW, Mar 22 (PRIME) -- The foreign producers of MC-21 jet components have refused to deliver them to Russia even under prepaid orders, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on Tuesday.

"We were denied shipments of the components (for MC-21) in the framework of our broad international cooperation. Besides, even the prepaid orders were frozen and are not delivered. There are no explanations," Manturov said.

The minister said that production of imports-replaced version of MC-21 will start in 2024. United Aircraft Corporation will deliver two test units of MC-21 in 2022.

Russia will produce 19 SSJ 100 aircraft in 2022 and has all necessary foreign components to fulfill the task. Several jets were produced but not taken to the airworthy condition, which will be done soon. A fully local version can be certified in 2023, and commissioned to the airlines in 2024.

Manturov said that Russia has no plans to resume production of Tu-204 passenger planes and will focus on Tu-214 instead.

The ministry plans to suggest the Finance Ministry revise some of the taxes on metals producers in the current circumstances. The Industry and Trade Ministry also agreed with the producers to untie prices from the London Metal Exchange and start to set them in rubles.

Cooperation in aircraft construction with friendly countries is not ruled out, Manturov added.

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