First UTS-800 training aircraft delivered
On 28 December 2024, the Ural Civil Aviation Plant JSC (UZGA) delivered the first two UTS-800 turboprop training aircraft to the Russian Ministry of Defence for further testing.
This two-seat, tandem cockpit aircraft was developed by UZGA to modernise pilot training for the Russian Aerospace Forces (RF VKS). It is designed to replace aging models like the L-39, offering a more cost-effective and efficient platform for initial flight training.
The UTS-800 shares design similarities with the Austrian Diamond DART series, particularly the DART-450T. Both are turboprop trainers with comparable design philosophies, though the UTS-800 is a localized variant tailored to meet the specific needs of Russian military training programmes.
Development of the aircraft began in 2017, with the first prototype unveiled at the Army-2021 defence show in Kubinka, Russia. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight on 28 October 2023 at the Aramil military airfield in Yekaterinburg. While the initial prototype and the two delivered aircraft are powered by General Electric H80-200 engines producing 800 horsepower, future production models are expected to feature the Russian-made VK-800SM engine, which is currently in development.
The two delivered aircraft bear the Bort numbers 06 rd and 07 rd.
Credit photo: Ural Civil Aviation Plant JSC