OREANDA-NEWS Alexey Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, said that the production of the Baikal aircraft could begin in the next two years.

"The President has decided that the united Far Eastern company Aurora will use the Baikal aircraft, which is currently being created, and for this purpose a workshop is being built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in the territory of advanced development. The Ural company UZGA will create it. Aurora has already signed a long–term agreement - until 2030 for the supply of Baikal aircraft. We expect that production will begin in the next two years," Chekunkov told reporters after a plenary session held as part of the Day of the Far East and the Arctic at the international exhibition and forum "Russia" at VDNH.

"On behalf of Yuri Petrovich Trutnev (Deputy Prime Minister - Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District), VEB.rf carried out work on cost optimization, the leasing period was increased, respectively, the lease payment was reduced. We expect that in any case, no matter what the cost of Baikal is, it will not affect tariffs for people," the minister said.

In November, Chekunkov reported that the total cost of the Baikal aircraft would exceed 200 million rubles. At the end of September, Trutnev reported that, according to preliminary estimates, Baikal will be put into operation in about a year and a half. According to previously published information from the State Transport Leasing Company (STLC), it is planned that the aircraft will replenish the Aurora fleet in 2026-2030 and will be made in various configurations for passenger, transport, air safety, sanitation and others, replacing the obsolete An-2.