JSC and the Aerochemflot airline alliance signed a letter of intent providing for the supply of 120 LMS-901 «Baikal» aircraft to its member airlines during the period 2026-2030.
The document also provides for joint work on the design and key performance characteristics of the aircraft. In addition, the parties will arrange in the future a schedule for delivery, taking into account JSC’s production capabilities and the needs of Aerochemflot’s members.
«The alliance is engaged in aviation work across the country. For this work, it is necessary to replace our old Antonov An-2s, which have high fuel consumption, increasingly expensive,» said Klim Galiullin, head of the Aerochemflot alliance. «We are considering the LMS-901 Baikal aircraft as a replacement for such Antonovs. The range of speeds achieved by the machine, as well as with the expected economic indicators, are satisfactory. We expect that performing aviation work on the LMS-901 will be more profitable than it is now. Therefore, we have signed an agreement and are ready to re-equip our enterprises with this new equipment.»
Related content: LMS-901 «Baikal», a replacement for the Antonov An-2, made its first flight.
In creating the LMS-901 Baikal, Ural Civil Aviation Plant gives priority to ensuring the multipurpose use of the aircraft. Maxim Kharin, head of JSC’s aviation equipment sales and marketing department, added, «We are pleased that Aerochemflot Aviation Alliance, in planning the renewal and development of its aircraft fleet, has relied on our latest product.»
The LMS-901 should reach 300 km/h and fly 1,500 km with a payload of 2t (4,440 lb) and a capacity for 9 passengers. Like the Antonov, it will be able to use short unpaved runways and has a new feature: the possibility of equipping it with electric motors. The 12.2 m long and 3.7 m high aircraft has a wingspan of 16.5 m, an empty weight of 2,040 kg with an MTOW of 4,800 kg. The modular construction allows a quick change between a cargo or passenger version.