The return of Yakovlev

According to a recent article from FlightGlobal, UAC is set to revive the Yakovlev-branding at the end of August. It will replace the Irkut-brand, which is currently building the Superjet and the MC-21.

Yakovlev Design Bureau was already part of Irkut but will now be used as the main brand for the company, paying tribute to the history of Yakovlev.

An Irkut director says the rebranding is appropiate for the current task of uniting the Russian aviation industry and Yakovlev in the past oversaw the production of Russian aircraft during the Second World War.

Yakovlev is set to become the main civil aircraft manufacturer in Russia and it's said that the demand is for up to 500 new aircraft between now and 2030. According to Russian State Technology Corporation, Rostc, this demand will be met by at least 270 MC-21s and 142 SSJs.

If the rebranding into Yakovlev also means a new name for the MC-21 and SSJ is currently unknown but originally the MC-21-design started life as the Yak-242.

Photo by Irkut.