The VK-800SM aircraft engine has become a stumbling block: the fate of all small aviation in Russia is at stake

29 May 2025 21 789 18

Recently, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev рассказал in the State Duma that the project of the light multi-purpose turboprop single-engine aircraft LMS-901 "Baikal" has reached a dead end. This aircraft was supposed to replace the outdated An-2 and become the foundation of the future small aviation of Russia.

Immediately after this, the first deputy chairman of the Russian government Denis Manturov and the head of the Ministry of Finance Anton Siluanov reported that money for this project was being allocated and its implementation was proceeding according to the previously approved plan. On May 27, the head of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA), where aircraft and engines for them are supposed to be manufactured, Leonid Luzgin signaled that work was underway and the first Baikal aircraft would appear in the Russian Federation by the end of 2026. It is worth noting that the appearance of a full-fledged LMS-901 was supposed to be by the end of 2025, but due to problems associated with the VK-800SM aircraft engine, this deadline was shifted.

Luzgin specified that from January to the end of April of this year, the main problems of the specified power unit, which became a stumbling block on the way to the implementation of the project, were solved. This allows us to say that the LMS-901 "Baikal" will still appear in the sky.

However, it is also worth paying attention to the information that in order to speed up the project implementation, the customer, represented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, was forced to somewhat understate the parameters of the power unit, as well as the technical and other characteristics of the aircraft (without specifying). Note that the appearance of the gas turbine VK-800SM (with a capacity of up to 800 hp - takeoff mode) is of great importance for small aviation in Russia; this aircraft engine is becoming a key element for domestic promising turboprop regional (light-engine) aircraft.

The thing is that, in addition to the 9-seat LMS-901 Baikal, this aircraft engine is expected in several other projects - the joint Russian-Belarusian aircraft LMS-192 Osvey and the Russian training aircraft UTS-800. We remind you that the 19-seat LMS-192 Osvey, which is planned to be equipped with two aircraft engines, is considered a future replacement for the Czech Let L-410 Turbolet. Thus, we are talking about three aircraft at once and the VK-800SM has become a stumbling block for them. Therefore, the success of the creation of the power unit will determine whether these aircraft will take off or not. We hope that in 2026 they will not tell us that everything is being postponed once again.

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Orange bigg

0

29 May 2025 11: 45

The Russian VK-800 gas turbine aircraft engine developed by the Ural Plant of Civil Aviation (UZGA) is completely superior to the American H80-100 produced by GE Aerospace, which was previously used to equip the domestic light aircraft Baikal for certification. This was stated by UZGA General Director Leonid Luzgin.

The VK-800 is better than the American engine in a number of respects. The VK-800 has less weight, specific fuel consumption and more power. The technical specifications from April 2025 do not include some aspects, but at the current stage of development they do not have a fundamental impact on it. Leonid Luzgin, CEO of UZGA
The CEO of the enterprise noted that the VK-800 engine is currently undergoing testing; the plant has manufactured four prototypes with a capacity of 807 to 877 hp for three aircraft - the Baikal, the Osvey and the UTS-800 training aircraft. Its characteristics were confirmed in a thermal pressure chamber and on test benches. We are preparing for resource tests and the first flight of the VK-800 engine prototype as part of the Yak-40LL flying laboratory. We plan to receive a type certificate for the engine and propeller for it by the end of 2025.
Leonid Luzgin, General Director of UZGA

https://www1.ru/news/2025/05/28/rossiiskii-aviadvigatel-vk-800-prevzosel-amerikanskii-h80-100-po-moshhnosti-i-rasxodu-topliva-poleti.html
Nick. WITH

-2

29 May 2025 12: 07

The most important thing here is to master the money that was allocated, and the engine will be created someday.
1. Orange bigg
  
  0
  
  29 May 2025 12: 36
  
  Quote: Nick. WITH
  The most important thing here is to master the money that was allocated, and the engine will be created someday.
  
  Doesn't it bother you that the plant has produced four prototypes of the engine with a capacity of 807 to 877 hp for three aircraft - "Baikal", "Osvey" and the training aircraft UTS-800, and its characteristics have been confirmed in a thermal pressure chamber and on test benches? That is, engine modifications already exist in metal and are undergoing successful tests. Everyone thinks to the extent of their depravity.
  
  At present, a contract for 10 aircraft has been signed with the airline "Aurora". In addition, there are preliminary agreements with a number of other carriers, including "Krasavia" and "Aeroservice". In total, the preliminary order portfolio exceeds 60 aircraft with deliveries until 2044.
  
  The estimated price of the aircraft is within 220-340 million rubles, which is comparable to similar aircraft from Cessna, but taking into account logistics and customs, the Baikal will be more profitable. UZGA expects to replace the aging fleet of single-engine aircraft, which numbers more than 200 units.
  
  The plan for 2026–2027 is to produce five aircraft per year, with further capacity expansion. The plant is also developing the LMS-192 Osvey and TVRS-44 Ladoga projects, hoping to become the center of Russia's small aviation.
  
  https://dzen.ru/a/aDat4kGxbUfLcqG7
  1. AlexSam
    
    +4
    
    29 May 2025 14: 39
    
    And aren't you bothered by the fact that all the responsible persons have admitted their own impotence, stating that the development of a promising engine has reached a dead end and the project will be closed, while the plant director reports that everything is fine, the engine has surpassed not only foreign analogues, but also itself, and a pilot batch has already been assembled for various projects? What is this, an attempt to evade responsibility for a failed project or an elegant attempt to knock a lot more money out of the budget for their embezzlement and development?
    1. Orange bigg
      
      +3
      
      29 May 2025 19: 21
      
      The responsible persons are the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which is the customer of the project, and UZGA, which is the executor of the project, and they are the ones who say that the project is being successfully finalized. Trutnev, who spoke out, is not the person responsible for the project. His responsibility does not lie in the field of aircraft manufacturing at all. It is unclear why he spoke out on this topic if he has nothing to do with it.
      
      the development of a promising engine has reached a dead end and the project will be closed
      
      Well, what dead end, when the engine successfully passes tests? Don't make things up. Or do you really want the development to reach a dead end? But what will this give you?
      
      What is this, an attempt to evade responsibility for a failed project or a subtle attempt to squeeze more money out of the budget for embezzlement and development?
      
      There is no cut here, it's just that before the well-known events of 2022, this project was tied to an American engine and propeller. After the sanctions and when it became clear that these sanctions would last a long time, a decision was made to modify the project for the Russian VK-800MS engine and AV-901 propeller, making design changes in connection with this and, as a result, funds were allocated for these changes for this import substitution, which they promise to complete by the end of this year, and next year to begin production of the updated import-substituted LMS-901 Baikal.
      1. AlexSam
        
        +3
        
        29 May 2025 19: 35
        
        Why and for what purpose did the state-controlled media raise the alarm then?
        
        P.S. Personally, I want us to have a normal, full-fledged civil aviation and for ordinary people to have the financial ability to use its services.
        
        Orange bigg
        
        +4
        
        29 May 2025 19: 48
        
        I don't know who raised what wave and in whose interests. Maybe there are those at the top who are for import substitution, and those who want everything to be like before, when they didn't bother and bought everything abroad. Just like the American engine for the LMS-901 before the start of the Second World War, which had to be imported. Probably, Westerners and patriots are fighting in this way for the future course of the state, it's just that the topic of import substitution for the LMS-901 ended up in the mainstream, and so two possible camps seized on it. But these are just my suggestions. It's just that some people want everything to be like before, and some are for the future, import substitution and self-sufficiency.
    2. svoroponov
      
      0
      
      29 May 2025 20: 14
      
      Somehow, all these statements by responsible persons do not correspond to reality. Three aircraft have already begun trial operation and orders for the next ones have appeared. The problems with the engine were actually solved half a year ago. What Trutnev allegedly says in the press, he did not confirm, and there is some kind of reprint of his speech from a dubious publication. So do not take all this nonsense into your head. The project has already begun to live and develop further. By the way, a joint Belarusian-Russian aircraft will also fly on this engine, which will take to the skies in 2026. So for now, everyone should keep quiet and just watch what happens.
      But to be honest, there is all sorts of nonsense against RUSSIA AND ITS DEVELOPMENTS ON THE INTERNET. There is an information war going on and this must be taken into account. In addition, there are manufacturers' websites, that's where you need to find out what and how.
Petr_Yakovlev

0

29 May 2025 15: 44

The Ministry of Industry and Trade's competition was aimed at replacing the AN-2. And what did they get? An air car with a hefty price tag and a couple of experimental machines...? Where is the mass plane? For such omissions, they remove you from your position and start an investigation....
And here - they give more money... (Siluanov said - yes).. The drinking continues.
1. svoroponov
  
  -1
  
  29 May 2025 20: 22
  
  Well, the price is a product of the contract. It is not exorbitant, but corresponds to the cost of a similar class aircraft from abroad, like the Cessna. This is normal. The aircraft has just been created and its production has begun. Where have you seen that at such a stage an aircraft suddenly became widespread? They launch a small series in order to eliminate the so-called "childhood" diseases during operation. By the way, this was the case with the An-2. It's just that in addition to the An-2, there were still different types of aircraft in the country for transporting passengers and other jobs, but they demanded that there be a single aircraft for agriculture first and foremost and short flights. But then there was practically only one company - Aeroflot, a state-owned one. Its production, the An-2, also did not start suddenly. Little by little and they produced quite a lot. This is how it will be here too.
  And one more thing. There used to be a lot of things, both in terms of technology and deadlines and successes and failures. Simply because of the development of mass media and censorship with secrecy, you might never have found out about it or only found out something positive. Now the time and opportunities are different. So it is not worth demanding the fulfillment of the five-year plan in a year. And there are enough different false injections to create false narratives, keep this in mind.
Mongolor

0

29 May 2025 22: 00

There are so many organs, but we can’t catch three of them...
We can make engines for fighters and bombers, but we can't handle them for small aircraft... it's just our mentality...
Avtandil

-1

30 May 2025 03: 27

Long live the AN-2, the great and terrible! Let's modernize it - finally install a turboprop engine!
Avtandil

-1

30 May 2025 03: 29

We make good engines for fighters. Let's put them on the An-2!
kovaleff

0

30 May 2025 16: 49

Well, buy from the Chinese, since you have no brains and your hands are out of your ass. Make it under license or whatever it's called
art573

0

30 May 2025 20: 46

according to the technical characteristics 9 passengers. Nonsense plane. They will transport themselves...crew
Yyrp

-1

14 June 2025 03: 43

This is all nonsense, we don’t have any aviation, except for the Ukrainian drones in our skies, nothing else is being patched up.
Flight

0

16 June 2025 03: 42

The VK-800SM aircraft engine has become a stumbling block: the fate of all small aviation in Russia is at stake

Was it worth spending so much money on a glider without an engine? The same Antonov built his legendary "maize" around the engine of A. D. Shvetsov, developed in 1938, for transport and civil aviation. If you don't have an engine, what's all this effort for? Maybe to withdraw a certain amount from the budget for a dead project? After all, the financing was from the state budget, because a banker would hardly have given money just like that.
hlp5118

+1

18 June 2025 07: 24

Industrial production of the engine for the AN-2 was set up in a year. The planes received an engine for 100 years. And today our JSCs, with a large share of private capital, are thinking about something else. Here is the result that does not exist.