Starting from 2027, the Far East will receive 6-8 deeply modernized An-2 aircraft annually. The machines are planned to be equipped with new avionics and updated airframes, and subsequently converted to domestic engines. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Far Eastern Federal District, Yury Trutnev, at the Eastern Economic Forum.
At the first stage, the machines will use overhauled standard engines, after which they are planned to be equipped with new Russian power plants. However, the specific type of engine has not yet been finally selected: the Ministry of Industry and Trade is considering, in particular, the VK-800 and VK-1600S.
The update will affect not only the power plant. The aircraft will receive new airframes and modern avionics. Trutnev emphasized that this refers to practically newly prepared machines.
The aircraft will be new, completely re-skinned, I will definitely check them myself. And new avionics, and a new airframe — and so on.
Deliveries are planned to be annual. This should support the fleet of small aircraft in the Far East, where the An-2 is still used for local transportation and communication with remote settlements.
The return to the An-2 is associated with delays in the creation of a new light aircraft. It was assumed that its place would be taken by the LMS-901 "Baikal", but the program faced technical and organizational problems. Against this background, the modernization of existing An-2s is considered a way to quickly obtain aircraft for regional routes.