MC-21 Falls Short of Original Performance Specifications

The MC-21, Russia's next-generation narrow-body airliner, has been assessed by Sberbank as falling short of its original performance specifications.

The assessment compares the MC-21 to competing aircraft from Airbus and Boeing and highlights significant differences between the aircraft's original published specifications and its actual characteristics. The MC-21 is expected to have a commercial payload capacity of 17,500 kilograms, which is lower than originally anticipated, and a range of only 2,300 to 3,800 kilometers, compared to 5,200 kilometers previously advertised.

The assessment also shows that the aircraft's fuel consumption will be higher than expected, at around 2,530-2,800 kilograms per hour, and that it will require longer runways for takeoff, with a distance of between 2,125 and 2,410 meters required. The estimated acquisition cost of the MC-21 is also significantly higher than its competitors, at approximately 11.6 billion rubles.

The assessment suggests that while the MC-21 has a distinct advantage in terms of passenger capacity, it falls behind its competitors in operational economics, including range, fuel consumption, and runway performance.