New Identity: Russian Airliners Embrace ‘Yakovlev’ Branding

In a significant development for the Russian aviation industry, a new chapter is unfolding as the nation’s commercial aircraft, including the Superjet SJ-100 regional jet and the MC-21 single-aisle mid-sized airliner, prepare to embrace a fresh brand identity.

Sergey Chemezov, the head of Rostec, a state-owned conglomerate overseeing aerospace, engineering, and defense sectors, disclosed plans to revive the esteemed ‘Yakovlev’ brand for the entire spectrum of Russian-made airliners.

The decision to rebrand Russian aircraft has been a topic of deliberation for years, gaining momentum with Rostec’s renaming of its commercial aircraft subsidiary, Irkut, to ‘Yakovlev’ in July 2023.

This strategic move aligns with Russia’s aspiration to reduce dependence on imported aircraft, as highlighted by Chemezov’s vision to equip domestic airlines with approximately 500 high-quality, domestically manufactured aircraft by 2030.

Recently, the much-anticipated Russian competitor to Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, the Yakovlev MC-21, is encountering yet another setback as its first deliveries are pushed back to 2025 or 2026.

Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov disclosed the extended timeline, underscoring the ongoing challenges plaguing Russia’s aerospace industry. Originally slated for delivery to the state-owned Aeroflot group in 2022, the MC-21’s schedule has been repeatedly pushed back, with 2024 being the subsequent target.

However, amidst the aftermath of Russia’s involvement in Ukraine and ensuing international sanctions, the project has faced significant hurdles.