Russia Shows Putin Its Newest Jets — MC-21 & Yak-130M

Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, putting two important Russian aircraft programs—the MC-21-310 passenger jet and the upgraded Yak-130M—under the spotlight. During the visit, Putin inspected production of the MC-21 and entered the cockpit of the first serial aircraft built with Russian-produced systems and components. According to Russian officials, 18 MC-21 aircraft are currently at the plant in various stages of production. The MC-21 has become one of the most closely watched programs in Russia’s aviation industry. Originally developed using a combination of Russian and foreign equipment, the aircraft underwent an extensive redesign and import-substitution program after Western sanctions disrupted access to overseas components. The serial MC-21-310 shown during Putin’s visit is equipped with Russia’s PD-14 engines and domestically produced systems. The first fully import-substituted serial aircraft is now being prepared for its first flight, while certification work continues ahead of planned deliveries. But the MC-21 was only part of the story in Irkutsk. Putin was also shown the Yak-130M, the significantly upgraded version of the Yak-130 advanced jet trainer. The Yak-130M prototype completed its maiden flight in June 2026. The modernized aircraft adds new avionics, radar and weapons capabilities designed to significantly expand the platform’s combat role. Russian officials describe the Yak-130M as capable of engaging both ground and aerial targets, including large unmanned aircraft. Three experimental Yak-130M aircraft have reportedly been assembled and are undergoing testing, with deliveries currently targeted for the end of 2028. Putin’s Irkutsk visit therefore brought together two very different sides of Russia’s aviation strategy: the effort to establish large-scale domestic production of a modern passenger airliner and the development of a more capable combat derivative of the Yak-130. In this video, we examine what Putin was shown, the status of MC-21 production, what has changed on the Yak-130M, and what the visit reveals about Russia’s aviation ambitions.