Russia sees prospects for exporting medium-range, regional aircraft to Saudi Arabia - minister

YEKATERINBURG. July 7 (Interfax) - Saudi Arabia is being considered as one of the potential export markets for Russian aviation industry products, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov said on the sidelines of the Innoprom exhibition.

Cooperation in the aviation industry was discussed during a meeting with Saudi Arabian Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar al-Khorayef.

"For now, we are primarily looking at the market with regard to aircraft that are already undergoing certification, as well as small aircraft being developed by the Ural Civil Aviation Plant [UCAP], which could also find their place in this market," Alikhanov told journalists regarding potential areas of partnership.

Russia is currently preparing to certify fully import-substituted versions of the MC-21 and SJ-100 aircraft, with all procedures planned for completion by the end of 2025. Simultaneously, development is underway on regional aircraft to replace the outdated An-2, in particular the light multipurpose aircraft LMS-901 Baikal by JSC UCAP, with the first deliveries of Baikal aircraft expected by late 2026.