Aeroflot Group has finalized a firm order for 90 Yakovlev MC-21-310 narrowbody aircraft, securing a long-term fleet renewal strategy as international sanctions restrict access to Western-built airframes.

The agreement, signed on September 18, 2026, by subsidiaries of Rostec State Corporation and Aeroflot, includes a 22-year comprehensive technical support package. According to a press release from the Official Website of the President of Russia, the contract covers post-sale maintenance for 108 aircraft in total, encompassing the 90 newly ordered airframes and 18 previously contracted units. Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the signing ceremony via videoconference from The Kremlin, alongside an in-person event at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO).

Delivery Schedule and Production Targets

Deliveries of the 90 newly ordered MC-21-310 aircraft are scheduled to occur between 2029 and 2032. Reporting by Interfax indicates a phased delivery schedule: 14 aircraft in 2029, 18 in 2030, 24 in 2031, and 34 in 2032.

Prior to this batch, Aeroflot is slated to receive its first 18 previously contracted MC-21 aircraft starting in 2027. The gap between the initial 2027 deliveries and the 2029 start of the larger order highlights the transition period required for United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to scale up serial production of fully domestic components.

Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov emphasized the industrial impact of the agreement, telling Interfax that the contract secures a clear production workload and establishes the foundation for a systematic ramp-up of serial manufacturing.

During the ceremony, President Putin noted the broader economic implications, stating that the long-term contract will fill the order books of domestic aircraft manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors.

Infrastructure Modernization and Domestic Connectivity

To support the integration of the new domestic fleet, the Russian government presented several newly completed aviation infrastructure projects during the September 18 event. The Kremlin reported that 20 runways and 26 airport terminal complexes have been commissioned across Russia since 2021.

Officials unveiled new passenger terminals at Barnaul Airport, Orenburg Airport, and Pskov Airport. Additional infrastructure upgrades included a new runway and air traffic control tower at Makhachkala Airport, alongside an upgraded air border crossing point at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport.

The government outlined a target to modernize a minimum of 75 Russian airports by 2030. To maintain strategic air routes during this infrastructure and fleet transition, the federal budget allocated 50 billion rubles over the current and previous year for route subsidies.

Fleet Transition Strategy

The MC-21-310 serves as Russia’s primary domestic alternative to Western narrowbody aircraft. The comprehensive technical support agreement, involving UAC and United Engine Corporation (UEC), mandates that maintenance and component replacement remain entirely within the domestic aerospace ecosystem for the 22-year duration of the contract.

AirPro News analysis

We view this 90-aircraft order as a definitive indicator of Russia’s timeline for achieving aerospace autarky. While the firm order provides UAC with a guaranteed backlog, the delayed delivery window of 2029 to 2032 for the bulk of the fleet underscores the engineering and supply chain hurdles involved in substituting Western avionics, engines, and composite materials. The operational success of the MC-21 program will depend heavily on UEC’s ability to reliably produce and support the domestic PD-14 engines at scale, a capability that remains untested over a multi-decade commercial lifecycle.

Sources: Official Website of the President of Russia

Pre-owned aircraft inventory levels remained significantly lower in August 2026 compared to the previous year, driven by a 37.73 percent year-over-year drop in available used large jets.

In a press release issued on September 4, 2026, Sandhills Global published its August aviation market reports. The data indicates a continued tightening of supply in the pre-owned aircraft market compared to 2025, while asking prices displayed mixed trends across different aircraft categories.

Jet and turboprop market dynamics

According to the Sandhills Global report, the global used jet aircraft inventory increased by 1.09 percent month-over-month in August 2026. This slight monthly gain did not offset the broader trend, as total jet inventory fell 22.32 percent year-over-year. Global asking prices for used jets decreased by 0.88 percent from July 2026 and dropped 1.85 percent compared to August 2025.

The global used turboprop aircraft market exhibited a similar pattern. Inventory rose 4.04 percent month-over-month but remained 9.92 percent below August 2025 levels. Asking values for used turboprops decreased 2.35 percent month-over-month and saw a marginal 0.14 percent decline year-over-year.

Piston aircraft and Helicopters trends

In the United States and Canada, the used piston-single aircraft inventory rose 2.8 percent month-over-month in August 2026. Similar to the turbine markets, this category experienced an 11.75 percent year-over-year decrease. Asking values for used piston-single aircraft decreased 0.93 percent month-over-month and 1.6 percent year-over-year.

The global market for used Robinson piston helicopters saw inventory increase by 1.19 percent month-over-month, while year-over-year inventory decreased by 10.53 percent. Asking values for these helicopters dropped 9.33 percent from July 2026 but recorded a 0.79 percent increase compared to August 2025.

AirPro News analysis

We observe a consistent pattern of constrained supply across all tracked pre-owned aviation sectors when comparing 2026 to 2025. The August 2026 data aligns closely with the July 2026 figures previously reported by Sandhills Global, where large jets posted a 39.6 percent year-over-year inventory decrease. The modest month-over-month inventory gains across jets, turboprops, and piston aircraft suggest the rate of inventory depletion may be stabilizing. The corresponding softening in asking prices across most categories indicates that buyers are not currently willing to pay a premium despite the lower year-over-year supply.

Sources: Sandhills Global via PR Newswire

Kalitta Air and Air Atlanta Icelandic have integrated CHAMP Cargosystems’ Cargospot Weight & Balance software to manage load planning for their newly introduced Boeing 777-300ERSF freighter fleets.

Announced in a September 15, 2026, press release, the software adoption allows the initial operators of the converted freighter to automate complex weight distribution calculations. The system is designed to optimize the aircraft’s center of gravity, which directly reduces fuel burn during long-haul operations.

Digitalizing load planning for high-capacity freighters

The Boeing 777-300ERSF, a passenger-to-freighter conversion program led by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and AerCap Cargo, provides 25 percent more cargo volume than smaller twin-engine long-haul freighters. This increased capacity introduces complex load planning requirements to ensure the aircraft remains within safe structural and aerodynamic limits.

By utilizing the Cargospot system, loadmasters can calculate weight distributions for the Boeing 777-300ERSF in seconds. The centralized digital environment eliminates the need for fragmented planning tools, reducing training requirements and minimizing the risk of human error during ground operations.

“As the launch operator of the 777-300ERSF, we needed a weight and balance solution that could support the aircraft from day one while remaining consistent with the processes already used across our fleet,” said Toby Ray, Chief Loadmaster at Kalitta Air. “By utilizing CHAMP’s Cargospot Weight & Balance platform, our loadmasters can work within a familiar environment, improve planning efficiency, and optimize aircraft loading to maximize payload capability while supporting fuel efficiency.”

Global deployment and fleet integration

Both airlines are currently operating the Boeing 777-300ERSF on major international trade lanes. Kalitta Air, which took delivery of the first two converted aircraft in September 2025, deploys the freighters on routes connecting the United States and Japan. Air Atlanta Icelandic received its first aircraft in November 2025 and operates the type between Asia and Europe under Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (CMI) contracts for Fly Meta and Hungary Airlines.

CHAMP Cargosystems developed the software to support these specific operational profiles. Khaled Chamsuddine, Product Manager for Aircraft Operations at CHAMP, noted that the platform is designed to digitize critical operational processes for freighter airlines. He stated that the company aims to help operators maximize aircraft performance safely and efficiently from the start of revenue service.

AirPro News analysis

The successful entry into service of a new freighter type relies as much on digital infrastructure as it does on the physical aircraft. While the engineering achievement of converting a Boeing 777-300ER into a high-volume freighter is significant, operators cannot realize the promised economic benefits without precise load management. We view the adoption of a unified weight and balance system by the first two Boeing 777-300ERSF operators as a necessary step to standardize ground handling. By optimizing the center of gravity through automated software, these airlines are positioning themselves to extract the maximum payload and fuel efficiency from the “Big Twin” platform.

Sources: Kalitta Air