On March 2, Shanghai Pudong International Airport reported another good news, and the fifth C919 aircraft independently developed by China was delivered, symbolizing that China Eastern Airlines has successfully entered a new stage in the field of aircraft manufacturing. However, behind this good news, Russia's MC-21 passenger aircraft is facing a series of difficulties, which has caused people to think deeply about the gap between the aircraft industry between China and Russia.
The Russian MC-21 passenger plane has been doomed again and again, and the problem of overweight has surfaced.
Behind the delivery of C919, the Russian MC-21 airliner has fallen into multiple difficulties. In the case of the shortage of parts and components in Western countries, the production of the MC-21 passenger aircraft has encountered many difficulties. What's even more worrying is that this first-class passenger aircraft has appeared in an embarrassing situation of overweight of 6 tons, which directly affects its commercial load and flight performance, and has become a major challenge for the Russian aircraft industry.
The mass production of the MC-21 was postponed, and the gap between the Chinese and Russian aircraft industries gradually widened.
The MC-21, which was originally scheduled to start mass production in 2024, was postponed to 2025 due to many uncertainties. This not only means that Russia's catch-up pace in the field of civil aircraft has been frustrated, but also the gap between the Chinese and Russian aircraft industries has further widened. The MC-21, once seen as a competitor to the C919, now appears to have lost the capital to compete with China's aircraft industry.
Compared with the stealth fighters of China and Russia, the disparity in the strength of the aircraft industry has emerged.
The differences in the aircraft industry are not only manifested in the field of civil aircraft, but also in the field of military aircraft. The first flight time of the Su-57 stealth fighter is similar to that of the Chinese J-20, but in terms of number and performance, the Su-57 is far inferior to the Chinese J-20. This contrast further highlights the stark gap between the aircraft industry in China and Russia.
The future of the aircraft industry in China and Russia is uncertain.
With the vigorous development of China's aircraft industry, the successful delivery of C919 has become the focus of world attention. However, Russia's MC-21 airliner is in trouble, becoming a microcosm of the differences between the Chinese and Russian aircraft industries. The development momentum of China and Russia in the aircraft industry seems to be going in different directions, and the future of the aircraft industry is full of uncertainties.