Putin inspects aircraft Domestic aviation plans

Jun 24

Anton Vernitsky reports Vladimir Putin's Zhukovsky inspection of the MC-21, SJ-100 and Il-114 and the ensuing civil-aviation meeting. Designers and test pilots praise safety, cabin space, common cockpit equipment and domestic components; those comparative claims are attributed to them. The report describes Aeroflot and other orders and plans to expand production. Putin praises young engineering teams and recounts the sanctions-related composite-wing delay; Andrey Nikitin discusses supporting young designers. Anton Alikhanov says money has been found for work on re-engining the existing Superjet fleet by year-end. The report describes PD-8 testing, the Il-114's regional role and expected first serial aircraft this year. Putin calls for coordinated airline orders, competitive quality and more domestic aircraft, and asks for revised passenger forecasts. Production targets and expected availability are plans, not completed deliveries.

On June 24, 2026, Putin inspected the MC-21, new Superjet and Il-114-300 at the Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky and spoke with designers and test pilots. Channel One's on-scene report shows aircraft tours and direct claims about safety, cabin space, common domestic cockpit equipment, components and anticipated production; those comparative and delivery claims remain attributed. In his subsequent public opening, Putin recalls the inspected aircraft, pilots' feedback and claimed improvements after foreign partners left. This event identifies the physical inspection. The ensuing sanctions assessment, passenger-planning request, production directives and Alikhanov's re-engining announcement are separately scoped occurrences connected through the same renewal activity.