The Russian prestige project Irkut MS-21 is increasingly coming to a standstill due to the trade sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States of America, among others. United Aircraft Corporation is no longer able to source western components.

You need this, however, because the MS-21 does not consist entirely of parts that are produced in Russia. The proportion of Western technology and components is quite high, so that even the Russian Minister of Trade, Denis Manturov, had no choice but to admit that the required parts were not available and that Western suppliers refused to deliver them.

The government member also had to admit that Western suppliers also refuse to hand over components that have already been paid for in advance. This is a consequence of the sanctions imposed in response to the Russian Federation's military invasion of Ukraine. In the meantime, even the Russian Ministry of Trade considers it unlikely that the United Aircraft Corporation will be able to deliver series-produced Irkut MS-2024s from 21.

The project has had a high priority so far because it is the first newly developed medium-haul jet in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Putin government is forcing local airlines to increasingly rely on domestically produced aircraft. Outside of Russia, this pattern is not a big seller. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary told Aviation.Direct that he wouldn't even take the MS-21 if he got paid for it.