Belarus' vice-premier: Time to fly our own aircraft

It high time for Belarus to start flying its own aircraft instead of simply repairing them, Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Parkhomchik told the ONT TV channel, BelTA informs.

The vice-premier gave his take on prospects for domestic production of aircraft. “We have certain competencies in this area. Minsk Civil Aviation Plant No. 407 performs a wide range of repair works of aircraft manufactured in Europe, America and Russia,” he noted. “Yet, we should go further than this. During the visit of Belarus' prime minister to Yekaterinburg, a corresponding agreement was signed. We plan to produce a 12-passenger light aircraft LMS-401 and to get the necessary competencies for this. Our specialists are to embark on design and development work soon. This work will require the involvement of Minsk Civil Aviation Plant No. 407 and 558 Aircraft Repair Plant in Baranovichi,” he said.

According to Piotr Parkhomchik, it is necessary to build additional facilities for machining and assembly of these aircraft. And this must be done promptly. Another initiative provides for cooperation between Belarusian and Russian aircraft companies. “We are negotiating contracts to supply components for Russian enterprises. This is a new direction, a new development vector. We need to move on from aircraft repairs to aircraft production,” he emphasized.

The deputy prime minister noted that geopolitical tensions and the sanctions prompted Belarusian manufacturers to pick up the pace. “Today Belarus has a unique chance to leverage its scientific and technical potential to gain a foothold in various markets and identify new points of growth,” he noted. “And our manufacturers are doing it. Figures say it all. At present, 17 investment projects worth RUB127 billion are being implemented in the Union State upon the initiative of Belarus and Russia. Right now, an additional 12 projects worth 37 billion rubles are undergoing approval procedures and will be considered in the near future,” he noted.