Samara plant "Aviakor" in its annual report for 2022 admitted the possibility of resuming production of An-140 turboprop regional aircraft in Russia. The condition for this is import substitution.
«Also, taking into account the refusal of Ukrainian enterprises to cooperate (the main part of suppliers and the Design Bureau Developer – GP Antonov are located in Ukraine), the An-140 aircraft construction program is currently suspended. But the company is ready to carry out maintenance and repair of this type of aircraft to support its operation. If the program of import substitution of components and systems of the An-140 aircraft is implemented, the company is ready to resume production of these aircraft», – Aviakor's report says.
The company explains that «a compensating measure after the suspension of the An-140 project is Aviakor's participation in a new project for the construction of the TVRS-44 Ladoga turboprop regional aircraft, implemented by JSC "UZGA". As part of the project, Aviakor manufactures the fuselage and other units for the manufacture of prototypes. In the future, it is planned to develop and put into mass production ready-made aircraft kits and final assembly of aircraft at Aviakor, including conducting flight tests».
If the projects of new Russian medium-range aircraft MS-21 and SSJ New are developing and should soon reach the finish line, then there are great difficulties with regional ones. The TVRS-44 Ladoga, designed to carry 44 passengers, will be certified in 2024, but production will start later – tentatively in 2026. Certification of the LMS-901 Baikal is expected next year, but it is designed to carry only 9 passengers.