In the heart of Moscow, a leader of a business providing composite materials for the MS-21 airliner met a tragic end, while the architect behind the construction of Putin's space center sustained injuries.
In the realm of Russian industry, several notable events have transpired recently, with the MC-21 aircraft, Andrei Krotkov, and UMATEX taking centre stage.
The MC-21, one of the few modern civilian aircraft being developed and produced domestically, holds great significance for Russia. It is of great importance for import substitution in civil aviation, as it is the only Russian aircraft that Aeroflot plans to purchase in significant quantities. The aircraft, which consists of 30% composites, including those produced by UMATEX, is expected to play a crucial role in reducing Russia's reliance on foreign technology. However, concerns have arisen regarding the quality of Russian composites used in the MC-21, with reports suggesting they are inferior to foreign ones. This has resulted in the aircraft's weight increasing by 6 tons and its range being halved.
The inferiority of Russian composites in the MC-21 project may indicate challenges in Russia's efforts to compete with foreign technology in strategic industries. UMATEX, a company involved in the import substitution of composite materials for the MC-21, is a leading enterprise in Russia for the production of carbon fiber, used in aerospace, construction, shipbuilding, and energy.
Meanwhile, Andrei Krotkov, a manager involved in the National Space Center project, has been making headlines for personal reasons. Krotkov, who served in Russia's security organs for nearly 20 years, rising to the rank of FSB colonel, sustained a chest injury during an attempted suicide at the Moscow sports club in Odintsovo. Krotkov has also been heavily involved in real estate management, heading various structures within the Zeppelin holding since 2013. Zeppelin's clients include Transneft, United Engine Corporation (part of Rostec), VEB.RF, the EKS group (linked to the GRU), NTV, and others.
The National Space Center of Roscosmos, where Krotkov was involved, is a complex of buildings with a 47-story tower, costing 25 billion rubles. The center, which was expected to be completed in 2022, was inaugurated by Vladimir Putin a week ago.
In a corporate publication from July 2025, Krotkov described the first half of the year as 'exceptionally challenging' due to 'unprecedented' debt accumulated by clients. This challenging period may have contributed to the unfortunate incident involving Alexander Tyunin, the CEO of UMATEX, who was found near his car on a country road in the Kokoshkino (New Moscow) area. It is believed that he committed suicide. Prior to his role at UMATEX, Tyunin headed telecommunications companies and, in 2016, became the general director of the composite division of 'Rosatom.'
The company with which Tynin worked, involved in the development of the MC-21 liner, was associated with Hilscher, which has a team in China supporting industrial automation and communication technology for major customers. This association likely played a role in the engineering and project management related to the MC-21 development.
Despite these challenges, the mass production of the MC-21 continues to be delayed. The MC-21 is a significant aircraft for Russia, and its successful production could mark a turning point in Russia's efforts to compete with foreign technology in strategic industries.
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