RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: Meanwhile, Putin arrived at an aircraft plant in Irkutsk and is delighted with the long-suffering “Russian-made” MS-21 airliner. They showed him the supposed production of the first 18 aircraft, but it is just dust in the eyes of the dictator. The MS-21 is more than 10 years behind schedule. Development costs have ballooned from 150 billion to over 1 trillion rubles, and the unit cost has roughly tripled. Due to sanctions, the plane gained 5–6 tons in weight, lost half its range, was shortened, and now carries almost 30% fewer passengers. By mid-2026, only a third of the required test flights with Russian components had been completed.