Lukashenko visits Irkutsk Aviation Plant

At the plant, the head of state got familiar with the stages of production of military aircraft (by the way, aircraft for the Belarusian Air Force are also made here), the assembly of the MS-21 passenger liner. The top executives of the plant informed the Belarusian president in detail about the products and promising developments.

Irkutsk Aviation Plant seeks to expand industrial cooperation with aviation enterprises of Belarus.  Therefore, the topic of implementing joint projects, for example, in the machine tool industry and microelectronics, became the main topic during the visit of the head of state.  

At the plant, Aleksandr Lukashenko was gifted a model of the Su-30 fighter.

"My favorite aircraft," the president said.

"The most important thing is it is highly maneuverable," said Alexander Veprev, general director of the Irkutsk Aircraft Plant.

The United Aircraft Corporation is implementing a program to replace imports and ramp up the production. In this regard, the development of cooperation with Belarusian enterprises is becoming more important. 

“Plans are in place to cultivate closer cooperation with Belarusian manufacturers, to increase the supply of aviation components and assemblies," the plant said. 

The parties are exploring the possibility of setting up the sites in Belarus for the repair and maintenance of Russian aircraft delivered to the country.

Irkutsk Aviation Plant is considered one of the high-tech, science-intensive and dynamically developing enterprises of the Russian aviation industry. Since 1932, the plant has produced about 7,000 aircraft of more than 20 types, which were supplied to 40 countries. Irkutsk Aviation Plant is a full cycle enterprise. It carries out design and technological preparation for the production of new aviation equipment, manufactures tooling, prototype and serial aircraft, conducts ground and flight tests, and provides after-sales maintenance.

The plant produces Su-3OMK and Su-3OCM multi-role fighters, new-generation Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft, components for passenger aircraft, and overhauls the previously produced aircraft. Preparations are underway for series production of the new Yak-152 trainer aircraft and the promising MS-21 passenger airliner.