Rostec Corporation, the state-owned company that runs UAC, the holding company for Russia’s main aircraft manufacturers, revealed on Thursday that MiG will develop a new jet trainer to equip the country’s air force.
The aircraft, provisionally designated MiG-UTS, will be a single-engine aircraft based on the MiG-AT prototype, which flew in 1996 but whose development was canceled at the time.
According to Rostec, the new trainer will replace the L-39 Albatros jets that have been in service since the 1970s.
“We have great doubts about supporting the operation of the aircraft where the main pilot training takes place today. Therefore, a new training tool is needed that allows us to effectively train technical and flight personnel,” said Sergei Korotkov, Deputy General Director UAC.
The main objective of the project is to produce a low-cost aircraft, the company explained.
“We are creating the cheapest and easiest-to-operate single-engine aircraft – both to fly and to maintain – that fully meets the requirements for the basic training stage,” said MiG chief designer Andrei Nedosekin.
The engine chosen to equip the new jet is the AI-222-25, also used by the Yak-130 twin-engine trainer and which is produced by the company Salyut, part of the United Engine Corporation.
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Rostec has not estimated a deadline for the MiG-UTS to enter service. According to World Air Forces 2024, the Russian Air Force has 182 L-39 and 118 Yak-130 jets in service.
