The State Transport Leasing Company, known as GTLK, has proposed leasing the newest Russian MS-21 aircraft to several carriers. The proposed figure for deliveries sits around 4.3 to 4.6 billion rubles per aircraft, which translates to roughly $50 to $54 million at current exchange rates. This information comes from Kommersant, a widely cited business daily.
Financial planning for these transactions reportedly considers subsidies from the National Welfare Fund to support aircraft purchases, with the anticipated deliveries targeted for 2028 to 2030. Kommersant notes that Aeroflot appears to face a different pricing arrangement, indicating a distinct pricing tier or structure for that airline.
Back in late 2021, Kommersant reported that STLC had set a higher price for the MS-21, ranging between 4.71 and 4.99 billion rubles, which would be equivalent to about $58 to $68 million at that time. Those potential agreements, however, did not move to signing in that period.
Experts cited by Kommersant have suggested that the MS-21 may represent one of the most expensive aircraft in its class within Russia, with the current pricing possibly edging higher. The analysts compare the MS-21 against international catalog figures for rivals such as the Airbus A320 family, Boeing 737 family, and their MAX variants, which generally list at roughly $100 to $105 million. Real-world market prices, though, have often hovered closer to $50 million or lower for these same models, highlighting a notable gap between official catalog pricing and actual market transactions.
In terms of development, the MS-21 stands out as Russia’s inaugural long-range jet developed in the post-Soviet era. Irkut Corporation is the principal manufacturer behind the program, and the broader Rostec group has highlighted the aircraft’s role in modernizing the country’s aviation fleet. Industry projections from Rostec have indicated that the first MS-21 aircraft featuring domestically produced PD-14 engines was set to begin deliveries in 2024, marking a milestone for Russian aerospace autonomy beyond Western engine supply chains.
Beyond the civil aviation sphere, there has been recent activity in Russia related to defense technology, including new drone suppression systems that reflect ongoing investment in aerospace and security capabilities. While these developments run on a different track from commercial airliners, they collectively illustrate a broader push to boost domestic aviation and related defense technologies as part of strategic national programs.