Irkutsk Aviation Plant
| Company type | Branch of Yakovlev Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
| Predecessor | Plant No. 125 named after Joseph Stalin |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Headquarters | Irkutsk , Russia |
Area served | Worldwide (37 countries) |
Key people | Alexander Alekseevich Veprev (Director since 2008) |
| Products | Military and civil aircraft including Sukhoi Su-30, Yakovlev Yak-130, Yakovlev MC-21 |
| Owner | Yakovlev Corporation (parent company) |
| Parent | Yakovlev Corporation |
The Irkutsk Aviation Plant () is a Russian aircraft manufacturer situated in Irkutsk. As a branch of the Yakovlev Corporation, it specializes in producing both civil and military aircraft, including models such as the Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter, the Yakovlev Yak-130 trainer, and the Yakovlev MC-21 airliner.
Since its establishment in 1932, the facility has manufactured more than 8,000 airplanes. Its operations are based at Irkutsk Northwest Airport, located close to the Angara River.
1932 - 1941 Early Development
The foundation for what was initially called "Plant No. 125 named after Joseph Stalin" was laid on 28 March 1932 following an order from the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry to build an aircraft factory in Irkutsk. The construction process was arduous and conducted under strict secrecy, heavily relying on manual labor provided by the Komsomol, with workforce members arriving from different regions of the Soviet Union starting in July 1932.
By 1934, the first production facilities were ready, setting the stage for manufacturing the Tupolev I-14 fighter. The plant completed its first I-14 in February 1935, roughly six months after commencing operations. Production of the Tupolev SB fast bomber began in 1936.
1941 - 1945 World War II Period
Following the launch of Operation Barbarossa, the Red Army Air Force suffered severe losses. Due to its location east of the Ural Mountains, the Irkutsk plant became crucial in rebuilding Soviet air capabilities. In late 1941, it absorbed the evacuated Moscow Aviation Plant No. 39 and adopted its designation. By year-end, it had produced and dispatched 144 Petlyakov Pe-2 dive bombers to frontlines via the Trans-Siberian Railway. Production rates reached up to five aircraft daily by 1942, covering various bomber types.
During World War II, over two thousand planes were constructed, including:
- 730 units of the Petlyakov Pe-2
- 134 units of the Petlyakov Pe-3
- 919 units of the Ilyushin Il-4
- 391 units of the Yermolayev Yer-2 plus 4 Yer-2ON variants
Post-war years saw continued manufacturing of bombers such as the Yermolayev Yer-2 and Tupolev Tu-2.
1945 - 1991 Jet Era
The transition into jet technology occurred during the 1950s with production lines for jet bombers like the Tupolev Tu-14 and Ilyushin Il-28, with the latter becoming a mainstay within Warsaw Pact air forces. Simultaneously, the factory expanded into consumer goods manufacturing, producing items like backpacks and lighting fixtures. In 1957, it advanced to assembling large tactical transport aircraft with the introduction of the Antonov An-12; its maiden flight took place on 16 December that year. Between 1956 and 1962, a total of 155 An-12s were built before production moved to Tashkent. The plant resumed military transport aircraft output in 1967 with the launch of the Antonov An-24T.
From 1960 until 1972, Irkutsk manufactured 697 airframes of the Yakovlev Yak-28, initially designed as medium bombers but later adapted for roles including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, interception, and training. A Yak-28 was installed as a gate guardian in honor of the plant’s golden jubilee in 1982.
During the early 1970s, production began on the variable-sweep wing Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, including twin-seat trainer variants MiG-23U/UB starting in 1971. Between 1977 and 1988, production extended to ground attack models MiG-27 and MiG-27K. Both types were extensively exported and also manufactured under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India. Overall output included approximately 1,008 MiG-23s and 360 MiG-27s.
In the mid-1980s, assembly of two-seat versions of the Sukhoi Su-27UB was transferred to Irkutsk. To fulfill Soviet Air Defence demands for extended operational range, development commenced in 1986 on an interceptor and airborne command post variant known as Su-27PU. Its first flight occurred on 31 December 1989; three pre-production units followed by April 1992 amid the political upheaval surrounding the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
1991 - 2006 Period of Crisis
On April 21, 1989, the facility underwent restructuring to become the Irkutsk Aviation Production Association (IAPO), later transitioning to private ownership in 1992 under the leadership of Alexey Innokentievich Federov. Throughout the turbulent post-Soviet decade of the 1990s, IAPO encountered severe difficulties as the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in the disappearance of state defense financing, leading to workforce reductions, wage freezes, and shutdowns. The financially strained Russian government was unable to honor outstanding commitments from the Soviet era.
A crucial financial boost originated from a contract between Russia and India for the acquisition of a significant number of Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft—an advanced variant of the Su-27PU tailored for the Indian Air Force. The initial units were manufactured by IAPO, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited commenced licensed production domestically.
Products
| Aircraft | Type | Production start | Production end | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-14 | Fighter | 1935 | 1937 | |
| SB | Fast bomber | 1936 | 1940 | |
| Pe-2 | Dive bomber | 1941 | 1943 | |
| Pe-3 | Heavy fighter | 1942 | 1943 | |
| Il-4 | Long-range bomber | 1942 | 1944 | |
| Il-6 | Long-range bomber | 1943 | 1944 | Development ceased in 1944 |
| Yer-2 | Medium bomber | 1944 | 1946 | |
| Tu-2 | Medium bomber | 1947 | 1950 | |
| Tu-14 | Torpedo bomber | 1948 | 1953 | |
| Il-28 | Medium bomber | 1953 | 1953 | |
| An-12 | Tactical airlifter | 1956 | 1962 | An-12T variant available |
| Yak-28 | Medium bomber | 1960 | 1972 | |
| An-24 | Tactical airlifter | 1967 | 1971 | |
| MiG-23 | Fighter | 1970 | 1985 | 'U', 'UB', 'UM' variants produced |
| MiG-27 | 'Attack aircraft' | '1977' | '1983' | |
| Su-27 | 'Fighter' | '1986' | '2002' | 'UB' variant included |
| Be-200 | 'Amphibious aircraft' | '1992' | '2011' | 'Production shifted to Taganrog Aviation Plant' |
| Su-30 | 'Multirole combat aircraft' | '1992' | 'Su-30K, Su-30MK since 1997, Su-30SM since 2012, Su-30SM2 since 2025' | |
| Yak-130 | 'Lead-in fighter trainer' | '2008' | ||
| 'MC-21' | 'Airliner' | '2014' | 'First flight occurred on May 28, 2017' |
The facility exports its products to 37 nations, including Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, China, Afghanistan, and Egypt.
Directors
- 1932 - Alexander Danilovich Lyushinsky
- 1932–1935 - Vladimir Grigoryevich Iryanov
- 1935–1936 - Yevsey Grigorievich Makar
- 1936–1937 - Abram Grigorievich Gorelits
- 1938–1940 - Israel Solomonovich Levin
- 1940–1942 - Isaac Borisovich Iosilovich
- 1942–1946 - Viktor Ivanovich Abramov
- 1946–1947 - Kirill Alexandrovich Petrov
- 1948–1952 - Mikhail Pavlovich Semenov
- 1953–1960 - Sergey Kuzmich Ivanchenko
- 1960–1968 - Anatoly Sergeevich Khlopotunov
- 1968–1979 - Viktor Afanasievich Maksimovsky
- 1980–1993 - Gennady Nikolaevich Gorbunov
- 1993–1997 - Alexey Innokentievich Fedorov
- 1997–2008 - Vladimir Vasilyevich Kovalkov
- Since 2008 - Alexander Alekseevich Veprev