The Russian-Belarusian twin-engine light multirole aircraft LMS-192 Osvey will be equipped with non-retractable landing gear and will have a competitive cost for air carriers. According to Andrei Tuchin, chief engineer of the 558th Aviation Repair Plant (Baranovichi), although the landing gear struts will affect the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft, the choice of non-retractable landing gear is justified from the point of view of safety.
“During the thawing period on an unprepared airfield, clods of mud can prevent the landing gear from retracting. This can lead to a situation when it will be impossible to release them, which is extremely dangerous,” said Andrei Tuchin in an interview with the Belarusian TV channel STV.
He also said that the cost of Osvey will be competitive in the market of regional turboprop airplanes, and gave the example of the L-410 airplane, the price of which is at the level of $6 million. He explained that the main price benchmark for the aircraft’s developers is formed on the basis of existing analogs, and prices for similar aircraft vary from $5.5 million to $8 million, which is approximately 494-718 million rubles, so the LMS-192 project is tasked with creating a product capable of competing on these terms.
“The project’s task is not to be tied to a specific price, but to offer a competitive product,” said the chief engineer of the 558th ARZ.
At the same time, despite the fact that the airplane is at the initial stage of development, airlines have already shown interest in the LMS-192 Osvey. These are mainly carriers from Russia. Negotiations have already taken place between the airlines and representatives of Baranovichi ARZ. The main question is when the developers will be able to show the airplane.
Andrei Tuchin explained that Russia has a state program for the development of the aviation industry until 2030, which already provides for the purchase of these aircraft. “Most of the orders have already been actually distributed, and specific companies have been determined, how many airplanes they will purchase is already on paper,” he added.
According to the comprehensive program, the joint serial production of LMS-192 Osvey aircraft will begin in 2027 with the production of 20 machines at once. The production rate is forecast to increase to 46 aircraft per year from 2028, and a total of 158 aircraft are to be produced by the end of 2030.
