Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum about the need to accelerate the development of a passenger version of the "Baikal" aircraft and launch its mass production in the near future.
We must build our own aircraft that will be reliable, high-quality and meet our needs. In this regard, I ask you to accelerate the development of a passenger version of the light multipurpose aircraft "Baikal" and start its mass production as soon as possible.
The President also stressed that the cost and technical characteristics of the new aircraft should be competitive in order to ensure affordable prices for air travel for Russian citizens. He added that by 2030, the number of passengers on domestic flights in the Far East should increase to 4 million people per year.
The LMS-901 "Baikal" aircraft is a light multipurpose aircraft designed for use on local airlines and for performing various aviation tasks. It is equipped with one turboprop engine and is capable of carrying up to nine passengers or up to two tons of cargo over a distance of 1.5 to 3 thousand kilometers. The aircraft can take off and land on unpaved runways and has the ability to install ski or float landing gear.
It was expected that the "Baikal" would replace the outdated An-2, occupying the niche of light multipurpose aircraft. The aircraft is being developed and manufactured by JSC "Ural Civil Aviation Plant" (UZGA).
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