Russia has no legal right to build An-2 biplanes anew. However, there is an option to produce new aircraft based on modernization, said Kirill Alexandrov, CEO of the distributor company PI EM AI AERO.
As an example, he cited the TVS-2MS, which became the continuation of the "kukuruznik." They have logged more than 25 thousand hours and carry passengers on socially important routes, but only 26 such aircraft were built.
Alexandrov explained that the design documentation for the original An-2 aircraft now belongs to Airbus Military. It is not allowed to produce an exact copy without coordination with the copyright holder.
Modernization, according to Alexandrov, consists of replacing the engine with a switch to kerosene and updating the avionics, while the old airframe remains. This will preserve the unique properties of the An-2 — a large cargo compartment, ruggedness, and the ability to land on unprepared sites.
Aviation expert Oleg Panteleev explained to "First Technical" that without simplifying certification standards and switching to hybrid powerplants, Russia will not be able to create a new version of the An-2 with good performance and efficiency.