UMMC plans to develop a new regional jet by 2015 / УГМК разрабатывает новый региональный самолет

Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC) headed by Iskandar Makhmudov plans to develop a new regional jet by 2015. According to the General Director of UMMC-Holding, Andrey Kozitsyn, the aircraft will be manufactured by a Kunowice (Czech Republic) plant (51% of the enterprise was purchased by UMMC in 2008). All the tests will be completed next year and the aircraft’s price will be set.

«The plant was manufacturing L-410 aircraft using old airframes back in 2008. And now in 2012 we are manufacturing 16 aircraft per year», — Kozitsyn said. According to him, during the UMMC’s presence the enterprise’s staff increased from 300 to 1000 employees. He also explained that the company sees no point in increasing the output of this aircraft and a new vehicle will be developed by 2015. «It will still have the airframe of L-410, but the other components will be different», — Kozitsyn explained.

It is not clear if the aircraft would still be equipped by Czech-produced engines. They may be replaced by Pratt & Whitney’s ones. A source familiar with the company’s plans said that the aircraft’s designation is L-610. L-410 UPV E-20 with GE80-200 engines will become an interim stage of the project. Russian leasing company “Ilyushin Finance & Co” (IFC) ordered 10 such aircraft at Farnborough air show. The aircraft’s price is $5.5 million while its closest rivals cost about $7-8 million. A representative of IFC said that these aircraft will be performing flights to small regional airports. He also said that the aircraft’s range is 600 km (with maximum payload). For example, the vehicle is able to perform non-stop flights from Kazan to Orenburg.

Как сообщил генеральный директор Уральской Горно-металлургической компании, Андрей Козицын, компания разрабатывает новый региональный самолет.

Производить новинку будут на заводе в чешском Куновице. Первый самолет выпустят в 2015 году. Напомню, Уральская горно-металлургическая компания приобрела 51% чешского предприятия в 2008-м году.

Инвестиции в новый проект на данный момент составляют порядка 50-60 млн евро. Сейчас предприятие выпускает 20-кресельные самолеты L-410. В этом году завод поставит 16 единиц авиатехники.

Основные заказчики — российские авиакомпании и Министерство обороны. 4 самолета купят зарубежные заказчики. На базе L-410 УГМК создаст новый самолет с улучшенными характеристиками. Сейчас обновленный образец проходит летные испытания.