December 24, 2025, marked a noteworthy milestone for Russia’s aviation sector. On that day, the experimental prototype of the LMS-901 “Baikal” light multipurpose aircraft conducted its inaugural flight powered by a wholly domestically manufactured powerplant—the VK-800SM turboprop engine coupled with the AV-901 propeller. The flight occurred at the Ural Civil Aviation Plant airfield and signified the transition of the program into a critical phase: the simultaneous flight testing of the engine and propeller as an integrated aircraft system.
Test pilots verified that the flight proceeded routinely and without any noteworthy incidents. The aircraft exhibited stable performance, excellent controllability, and consistent handling characteristics, while the powerplant operated properly throughout all specified regimes. During the flight, the aircraft attained a speed of approximately two hundred and ten kilometers per hour and an altitude of up to four hundred meters, entirely consistent with the objectives of an initial test sortie.
The LMS-901 “Baikal”: A New Foundation for Regional Air Routes
The LMS-901 “Baikal” is being developed by UZGA under a contract with the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade as part of an overarching initiative to modernize the fleet of aircraft operating on domestic and regional air routes. Its primary objective is to supplant the morally and technically outdated An-2 and An-3 aircraft, which for decades have served as the mainstays of regional aviation but have long since reached the limits of their technological capabilities and operational lifespan.
The Baikal is engineered as a nine-seat light multipurpose aircraft featuring a spacious cargo compartment that can be swiftly reconfigured for passenger transport, freight and mail delivery, medical evacuation, or specialized missions. Significant emphasis has been placed on operations in remote and inaccessible regions with limited aviation infrastructure, such as the Far East, the Arctic, and extensive areas of Siberia.
The aircraft’s design emphasizes operational simplicity, dependability, fuel economy, and capability to operate effectively in harsh environmental conditions. For these reasons, the choice and development of an appropriate powerplant became a pivotal and defining aspect of the entire program.
The VK-800: Bridging a Strategic Gap in Russian Engine Manufacturing
The VK-800 turboprop engine, engineered by the Ural Civil Aviation Plant, occupies a segment that until recently lacked a comparable serially produced counterpart within the Russian Federation. This category of engines has traditionally been supplied by Western manufacturers and has been widely used on light and regional aircraft, access to which has effectively been restricted in recent years.
The VK-800 is designed not only to replace imported counterparts but also to serve as the technological foundation for a comprehensive family of domestic aircraft projects. In addition to the Baikal, the engine is planned for deployment on the UTS-800 basic trainer aircraft, the Russian-Belarusian regional aircraft LMS-192 Osvey, and initiatives focused on re-engining localized L-410 aircraft.
Depending on the application, the engine’s highest power output varies from approximately 807 to 870 horsepower. The VK-800SM variant installed on the “Baikal” produces eight hundred seventy-seven horsepower, ensuring the necessary performance during launch, cruise, and extended operational reliability.
The AV-901 Propeller: An Additional Advancement Toward Complete Import Substitution
Equally significant within the program is the AV-901 propeller, also engineered by the Ural Civil Aviation Plant. This is a feathering and reversible propeller of a single-acting configuration, using a direct setup with a single hydraulic control channel. The development of the AV-901 commenced in 2022 and was initially designed with complete domestic manufacturing in mind.
The propeller is capable of achieving rotational rates of up to nineteen hundred revolutions per minute while consuming a power input of eight hundred and seventy-seven horsepower. Its computed maximal static thrust is at least fifteen kilonewtons, equivalent to approximately one thousand four hundred to one thousand five hundred kilograms of force. All elements of the propeller are produced using domestically sourced materials, a factor of vital significance given the current emphasis on technological sovereignty.
From Terrestrial Evaluations to Aerial Operations
Before the initial flight, UZGA specialists carried out an extensive series of ground experiments on the powerplant. These comprised the verification of consistent engine performance across all specified regimes, assessment of throttle response and acceleration attributes, and testing of emergency engine shutoff mechanisms as well as emergency propeller feathering procedures. Special emphasis was placed on the efficacy of the fuel system, vibration levels, and overall operational stability.
According to the post-flight report by the test pilots, the aircraft demonstrated stability and controllability throughout the evaluated flight envelope, while the powerplant functioned without any issues during the entire sortie. Both the primary and backup systems operated accurately, verifying the integrity of the engine and propeller integration.
Media Distraction Versus Industrial Reality
The first half of 2025 was marked by a significant surge of adverse media attention concerning the LMS-901 “Baikal” program. Many sensationalist outlets spread rumors that the project had purportedly been “suspended,” that it would necessitate “three to five years of substantial redesign,” or that it possessed no genuine prospects.
These assertions were generally attributed to ambiguous and unverifiable sources, such as “one of the newspaper’s interlocutors” or “sources close to the industry,” lacking accountability or technical validation. Nevertheless, the narratives were extensively disseminated, fostering a distorted perception of the program’s true status among segments of the public.
The events of December 24, 2025, effectively countered such assertions. Precisely within the timeframe previously specified by the developer, the aircraft commenced flight testing equipped with a new domestic engine and propeller. On the very day when critics had indicated that the program should remain in limbo, the “Baikal” effectively commenced flight.
Schedule and Certification: Seamless Operations, Predictable Outcomes
The beginning of flight testing at the end of 2025 is in complete accordance with the previously publicly defined project schedule. The certification of the VK-800 engine and the AV-901 propeller is scheduled for 2026. In the same year, the LMS-901 “Baikal” is anticipated to obtain its type certification.
Representatives of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant had publicly discussed these timelines as early as November 2025, prior to the inaugural flight. There were no emergency modifications to the program, no concealed crises, and no sudden suspensions—only a consistent advancement accompanied by external informational disturbances.
A Prolonged Development Journey, Now Yielding Results
The development of the VK-800 engine indeed required a substantial amount of effort. Fragmentary information that has emerged over the years in aviation forums indicates that the initial early design of the engine experienced major revisions throughout the development process. Consequently, multiple distinct modifications are currently in development or undergoing testing, customized for various aircraft platforms.
This extended development process was not without difficulties; however, it ultimately enabled the delivery of a fully developed, production-ready engine rather than a hastily assembled compromise solution designed solely to meet reporting deadlines. The inaugural flight of the “Baikal” equipped with the VK-800SM serves as a tangible validation that this approach was warranted.
What Lies Ahead
Following the successful initial flight, the program now progresses into a scheduled phase of expanded flight testing. Performance attributes will be examined over an expanded spectrum of operating conditions, and long-term reliability and maintainability will be evaluated within real-world environments.
It is already evident that the public narrative may undergo further shifts. When technical criticisms have been thoroughly addressed, focus often shifts to considerations of cost and project timelines. This pattern is commonly observed in the context of extensive industrial programs, especially when significant technical defects are not apparent.
A Significant Year-End Achievement in Russian Aviation
The inaugural flight of the import-substituted “Baikal,” powered by a domestically produced engine and propeller, signifies not only a technical accomplishment but also a symbolic milestone for the industry as a whole. It demonstrates that Russia’s aviation sector continues to be capable of providing complex systems on schedule, even amidst external pressures and ongoing skepticism.