Delivery of the first five regional "Baikal" expected in 2026. “We are essentially in a state of development. It was decided to switch to the domestic engine VK-800. Next year we need to complete the engine and propeller certification by our contractor. And the certification of the entire aircraft should be completed in 2026. And they will also have to deliver the first five aircraft in 2026,” said the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Anton Alikhanov in an interview with the TV channel " ;Russia-24".
The existing capacities of the Ural Aviation Plant for Civil Aviation (UZGA) are insufficient for the projected demand for this aircraft. "That is a separate issue. Now we are working on it together with UZGA and United Aircraft Corporation. There are several options that we will be working on in the coming weeks. I am sure that Denis Valentinovich, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Manturov, and other government colleagues will support us. And we will still be able to enter new production sites with this aircraft in 2026”, added Alikhanov.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting on the development of infrastructure in the Far East, asked to resolve the issue of the construction of a regional aircraft, which has been constantly postponed.