Russia Starts Development of Light Military Trainer Aircraft

Russia may have started the development of a light trainer aircraft for flight schools, according to Russian business newspaper Vedomosti.

The report noted that around half of the flight training fleet is currently grounded due to difficulties servicing the engines of Western-made aircraft.

A large part of the Russian civilian training fleet is made of models such as the Cessna 172, the Diamond 42, or the Czech-made L-410. These aircraft have been affected by sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, prompting Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) to launch the development of a domestic alternative.

The project was reportedly disclosed by an executive of the aviation authority at a meeting between Russian flight schools in April 2023.