Putin Says MS-21 Jet Deal With Aeroflot Marks Step for Russian Aviation

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the signing of a contract to supply MS-21-310 aircraft to Aeroflot represents a significant step in the development of Russia's aviation industry, according to a report by state news agency TASS.

Putin's remarks, cited by TASS, came in the context of broader comments on modernizing Russia's airport infrastructure and expanding the country's fleet of passenger jets amid efforts to bolster domestic aviation manufacturing.

The MS-21-310 is a Russian-made narrow-body passenger aircraft that has been positioned as a domestic alternative to foreign-built planes, as Russia's aviation sector has sought to increase reliance on locally produced aircraft in recent years.

Aeroflot, Russia's flagship carrier, is set to receive the new jets under the terms of the contract referenced by Putin, TASS reported, though further details on the scale, timeline or value of the agreement were not specified in the available report.

TASS did not provide additional details on the specific airports involved in the modernization efforts mentioned by Putin. The report did not include independent verification of the claims or additional context from Aeroflot or other officials.