Russia finances UAC to complete its Il-114

In 2023, the Russian government will allocate nearly 900 million rubles (approximately $13 million) to United Aircraft Corporation to fund a project for a long-range wide-body aircraft. The corresponding order was published on the official information portal last December 26.

On the other hand, in 2023, the Russian government will allocate more than 550 million rubles to finalize the Il-114 aircraft. «To provide in 2023, to finance the costs of completion of the Il-114 aircraft, budget investments in the amount of 554,400,000 rubles,» the text of the decree reads.

The Il-114 is a regional turboprop passenger aircraft designed for domestic airlines, which can operate in regions with poor infrastructure and difficult weather conditions. It has a 68-passenger capacity and a range of 2,000 kilometers. Its Klimov TV7-117ST-01 engines produce 3100 horsepower.

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The model was presented for the first time at the MAKS 2021 international aviation and space show. This aircraft was not new: it was built in the 1990s and then upgraded. The second one, however, is built with completely new parts.

The Il-114 is expected to replace the Russian airlines’ An-24 and An-26 families of aircraft and become an alternative to imported aircraft banned from Russia, and is specially designed to operate in Russia’s airports.

«An aircraft like the Il-114-300 is extremely important for Russia. This is a fully domestic turboprop passenger aircraft that can provide air mobility to the population in hard-to-reach regions of the North, Far East, and Siberia. Therefore, this program is a priority for us» said Sergei Yarkovoy, first deputy general director of UAC.

Aurora Airlines has an order for 19 units, making it the model’s launch customer. The agreement was signed with state-owned lessor GLTK, and the units are expected to begin delivery in 2023.