UZGA LMS-901 Baikal

LMS-901
LMS-901 Baikal on its first flight in January 2022
General information
TypeUtility aircraft
National originRussia
ManufacturerUral Works of Civil Aviation (UZGA)
DesignerBaikal Engineering
StatusIn development
Number built3 (2026)
History
Manufactured2021-present
First flight30 January 2022[1]

The UZGA LMS-901 Baikal is a utility aircraft produced by UZGA (Ural Works of Civil Aviation). The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade selected UZGA in October 2019 to develop a replacement for the widespread Antonov An-2. The prototype made its maiden flight on 30 January 2022. The aluminum, single-turboprop airplane is powered by a GE H80 or a Klimov VK-800. It is planned to carry a 2 t (4,400 lb) payload or 9–12 passengers over 1,500 km (810 nmi) at 300 km/h (160 kn) from short unpaved airstrips.

Development

In October 2019, UZGA (Ural Works of Civil Aviation) subsidiary Baikal Engineering won a tender to develop a light multi-purpose aircraft for the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.[2] The first prototype was planned for the end of 2020, to begin testing in mid-2021; certification was planned for 2022 and mass production to start in 2023, while demand was expected for 230 planes.[2]

The LMS-901 is designed to replace the Antonov An-2 after the SibNIA TVS-2DTS was indefinitely delayed.[3] Wind tunnel testing was completed in late November 2020, as Russian regional airlines were interested in 200 aircraft.[3]

By April 2021, an LMS-901 prototype airframe was completed.[4] On 30 January 2022, the prototype made its first flight from Yekaterinburg Aramil Airport, up to 500 m (1,600 ft) and lasting 25 minutes.[1] Serial production at Komsomolsk-on-Amur of 30 to 50 units per year was then planned for 2024.[5]

By August 2022, it had been ordered by siberian operators KrasAir and Aeroservis, with seven to be delivered to the latter between 2025 and 2028, powered by a Klimov VK-800SM turboprop.[6] In January 2023, Russian Aerokhimflot, an association of forestry and agricultural aviation operators set up in 2019, agreed to acquire 120 LMS-901s between 2026 and 2030.[7]

In September of 2024, Vladimir Putin ordered the LMS-901 into serial production, although its intended Klimov VK-800SM engine is not expected to be certified until 2025, with deliveries of the engine not expected until 2026.[8]

In early 2025, officials expressed a number of doubts with the aircraft, stating that additional funding was required.[9] On 14 May, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev stated that development of the aircraft had reached a dead end.[10] This statement was rebuked by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stating that a state contract had been signed in April for the integration of the VK-800 engine as well as resolving design defects.[11][12][13][14] Certification testing of the AV-901 propeller began in September.[15] By November, the Federal Air Transport Agency confirmed that the first flight of the aircraft equipped with the VK-800 is expected by the end of the year.[16]

On 24 December 2025, the first flight of a LMS-901 equipped with a domestic Klimov VK-800 engine and Aerosila AV-901 propeller took place from Uktus Airport.[17][18][19][20]

On 22 February 2026 the third prototype aircraft made its first flight.[21][22] In addition to the installation of the VK-800SM engine and AV-901 propeller, the aircraft featured design improvements including a modified nose for better ergonomic and safety requirements, more robust landing gear, as well as a modified wing angle to negate premature liftoff during takeoff in high winds.[23]

Serial production is planned to take place in both Yekaterinburg and Komsomolsk-on-Amur, with the expansion of construction facilities taking place to accommodate this.[24][25][26][27]

Design

The aluminum-made, high-wing monoplane is to be powered by the General Electric H80-200 and seat 9 passengers.[3] Smaller and almost two times lighter than the An-2, it should cost less than 120 million rubles ($1.6 million).[3] The project cost is estimated at 4.5 billion rubles ($62.41 M) and the operating costs (excluding ownership) at 30,000 rubles ($416.06) per flying hour.[2]

It should reach 300 km/h from a 95 km/h landing speed and cover 3,000 km.[3] Optional electric motors could offer redundancy.[3] It should fly a 800 nmi (1,500 km) range with a 2 t (4,400 lb) payload from short unpaved airstrips.[4]

Specifications

Data from Ural Works of Civil Aviation[2]

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) maximum payload, 9-12 passengers
  • Length: 12.2 m (40 ft 0 in) [5]
  • Wingspan: 16.5 m (54 ft 2 in) [5]
  • Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) [5]
  • Empty weight: 1,980–2,040[5] kg (4,365–4,497 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 4,800 kg (10,582 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × General Electric H80-200[5] or Klimov VK-800SM[6] turboprop
  • Propellers: 4-bladed Hartzell, 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) diameter [5]

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn)
  • Minimum control speed: 95 km/h (59 mph, 51 kn) [3]
  • Range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi) 2,000 kg payload, 45 minutes reserve
  • Take-off and landing performance equal or better than the An-2

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ^ a b "First flight of LMS-901 Baikal". Dutch Aviation Society. 2 Feb 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Baikal Engineering will replace the AN-2 aircraft" (Press release). Ural Works of Civil Aviation. 6 Nov 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Valius Venckunas (3 December 2020). "Bumpy story of Baikal, newest Russian bush plane". aerotime.aero. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b David Kaminski-Morrow (27 April 2021). "Baikal completes airframe of utility aircraft to replace An-2". Flightglobal.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Gastón Sena (22 Jan 2022). "The LMS-901 "Baikal", a replacement for the Antonov An-2, made its maiden flight". Aviacionline.
  6. ^ a b David Kaminski-Morrow (30 August 2022). "Siberia's Aeroservis to take LMS-901s for passenger transport". Flightglobal.
  7. ^ David Kaminski-Morrow (11 January 2023). "Russian aviation alliance looks at fleet of LMS-901s to replace An-2s". Flightglobal.
  8. ^ "Putin orders Baikal planes into production to replace An-2". RBC Ukraine, September 15, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  9. ^ "Над «Байкалом» сгущаются тучи". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  10. ^ "Вице-премьер Трутнев заявил о закрытии проекта самолета «Байкал»". РБК (in Russian). 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  11. ^ "В Минпромторге рассказали о судьбе проекта самолета «Байкал»". РБК (in Russian). 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  12. ^ "Контракт на доработку самолета «Байкал» за ₽10,4 млрд получит УЗГА". РБК (in Russian). 2025-03-27. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  13. ^ "Russia announces termination of LMS-901 utility aircraft project, but later denies it - Air Data News". www.airdatanews.com. 2025-05-26. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  14. ^ "Силуанов: Минфин не экономит на производстве самолета «Байкал»". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 2025-05-26. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  15. ^ "UZGA Commences Certification Testing of AV-901 Propeller for Baikal Aircraft – RuAviation". 2025-09-01. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  16. ^ "Названа дата полета прототипа "Байкала" с российскими двигателями". RIA Novosti. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 25 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "Минпромторг показал первый полет «Байкала» с новым российским двигателем". РБК (in Russian). 2025-12-24. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  18. ^ "Минпромторг России". Telegram. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  19. ^ "Overclockers.ru: Самолёт ЛМС-901 «Байкал» впервые поднялся в небо с российским двигателем ВК-800". Overclockers.ru. 2025-12-24. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  20. ^ "Первый полет с отечественным двигателем выполнил самолет ЛМС-901 «Байкал»". expert-ural.com. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  21. ^ "АО «УЗГА»". Telegram. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  22. ^ "Совершил первый полет третий опытный образец лёгкого самолёта ЛМС-901 «Байкал» с двигателем ВК-800СМ". bmpd.livejournal.com. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  23. ^ Иван, ВАЛОВ. "Третий лётный образец ЛМС-901 «Байкал» с двигателем ВК-800 совершил первый полет". Информационно-аналитический портал «Новости промышленности MASHNEWS» (in Russian). Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  24. ^ "New production facilities for Baikal and Ladoga aeroplanes were launched – RuAviation". 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  25. ^ "Construction of a plant for the production of Baikal aircraft has begun in Komsomolsk-on-Amur – RuAviation". 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  26. ^ "Baikal and Ladoga aircraft ground testing site launched – RuAviation". 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  27. ^ "The plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur for the production of Baikal aircraft is planned to be launched in the summer of 2025 – RuAviation". 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
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