russian propaganda media have circulated a statement by Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who claimed that in the next three years, russia plans to ramp up production of the Tu-214 medium-range passenger aircraft to 20 units per year—or 1–2 aircraft per month.
“We plan to produce these aircraft, if not in dozens, then at least two dozen by 2027–2028,” he said, adding that the goal is to have a “100 percent russian-made aircraft.” However, he did not specify whether this referred to the Tu-214, the SJ-100, or the MC-21.
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Still, the most eye-catching claim is the target of producing 20 Tu-214s annually in just a few years. But how realistic is that, considering the following facts?
In 2023, the Kazan Aviation Plant (KAPO) was supposed to deliver three Tu-214s but failed to deliver even one. The most advanced aircraft in production was a special-purpose variant, likely for the defense ministry, but even that one wasn’t completed on time.The situation in 2022 was similar. By year’s end, plans called for 10 aircraft—likely including a backlog of three from the previous year. Yet KAPO only rolled out a single Tu-214, RA-64535, in December, which made its first flight in 2024 and was sent to Belarus for painting.
In short, going from a production rate of one aircraft per year in 2024 to 20 per year by 2028 would require a 2000% increase over four years. In other words, russian officials are voicing unrealistic figures that are unlikely to become reality.
Previously, Defense Express reported that russia also spoke of converting Tu-214s into “mobilization missile carriers” for Kh-101 and Kh-22 cruise missiles.
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