New details emerged about the progress on the russian new light transport aircraft, the LMS-901 Baikal, set to phase out the aging An-2. Just a few weeks ago, the russian media worried that no one would buy the prospective aircraft because the price had soared nearly fourfold.
Now, President Vladimir Putin, using his unlimited power levers, has ordered the immediate launch of mass production for the LMS-901 Baikal and demanded that it be made "competitive" in terms of cost and specifications. However, even russian officials acknowledge that meeting this demand is unrealistic. First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said this aircraft can only be implemented with a VK-800SM engine, and it entails serious challenges.
Read more: russians Complain About High Price of LMS-901 Baikal Aircraft and Inability to Replace AN-2
The manufacturer originally planned for Baikal’s first flight with this new engine in Q3 2024, but the power plant’s certification is not expected until 2025, with serial production slated for 2026. This situation casts a long shadow on the prospects of Baikal's mass production beginning anytime soon.
Another major problem, as mentioned, is the pricing of LMS-901 Baikal. Initially, the cost was promised not to exceed 120 million rubles per plane, but now it has surged to 445 million rubles (approximately $4.87 million), with expectations of a further 4% annual price increase. Potential customers in russia’s Far East are unlikely to afford the aircraft, priced at nearly half a billion rubles each.
Archive video: LMS-901 Baikal maiden flight with old imported General Electric H80 engine
To address this, some russian sources have suggested using the same methods that allowed them to bail out the Sukhoi Superjet 100 back in the day — namely, government subsidies for production, purchase incentives, grace periods, etc. They have also hinted that those responsible for the Baikal's setbacks should be held accountable.
Moreover, ultimately the Baikal will not be able to completely replace the An-2, lamented Dmitry Trutnev, the russian Presidential Representative for the Far Eastern Federal District. He said, there are simply not enough runways in the region to accommodate the LMS-901 Baikal, limiting its usefulness in remote areas where the An-2 had been essential.
Trutnev also criticized Baikal-Engineering LLC, the company responsible for the aircraft's development, suggesting that it should be replaced by a more reliable partner. That stems both from the price game the company played on potential customers and authorities and from the consistent delays in starting mass production of Baikal.
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