Ural Works of Civil Aviation (UWCA) of Russia and Diamond Aircraft Industries (DAI) of Austria signed an agreement on Monday at the Paris Air Show to design and produce a series of diesel-powered 19-seat utility airplanes in Russia. The companies estimate that demand for these aircraft in Russia currently exceeds 200.
“Today, local aviation in Russia undergoes a severe crisis as there are no state-of-the-art, quality light airplanes of affordable prices,” said Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec, which is planning to create a leasing program for the new aircraft. “Creating a principally new aircraft will fulfill this niche and allow to replace the obsolete fleet,” he said. UWCA is a subsidiary of Oboronprom, which is a subsidiary of Rostekhnologii State Corporation (Rostec), comprising more than 663 companies that are established in eight military-industrial and five civil-industry holdings.