Ural Works of Civil Aviation
| Industry | Aviation manufacturing and services |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Factory No. 404 |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Headquarters | Yekaterinburg , Russia |
Area served | Russia and international (restricted by sanctions) |
| Products | Aircraft design, manufacture, testing, repair, maintenance; aircraft systems, parts, assemblies; licensed production of Bell 407 helicopters; Diamond light aircraft; local airliners LMS-901 Baikal, TVRS-44 Ladoga, LMS-192 Osvey; UAVs Forpost and Altius |
Ural Works of Civil Aviation (UZGA; Russian: Уральский завод гражданской авиации, previously known as Factory No. 404) stands as a prominent Russian manufacturer and service provider in the aviation sector. The enterprise focuses on the design, manufacture, testing, repair, and maintenance of aircraft systems, parts, and assemblies. Its operations encompass engine servicing centers, production facilities, an engineering hub, and multiple subsidiary companies.
History
Established in 1939 as standalone workshops supporting major Soviet air routes, UZGA initially concentrated on repairing U-2 and Po-2 aircraft along with engines like the M-11 and M-17. Throughout World War II, the facility significantly increased its production capabilities, assembling SB bombers and I-15/I-16 fighter planes, refurbishing Li-2 aircraft engines, and manufacturing components for Katyusha rocket launchers. From 1941 to 1945, the plant serviced 560 aircraft and over 1,500 engines, functioning at more than double its peacetime repair capacity. The workforce earned six socialist competition awards within Aeroflot’s repair sector.
Following the war, UZGA mastered the overhaul of ASh-82FN engines for IL-12 aircraft and introduced an innovative repair line capable of handling 8,000 units—a method that subsequently became standard across the industry. By 1956, the facility had expanded to include repairs of ASh-82T piston engines used in IL-14 aircraft.
During the 1960s, the plant provided maintenance for ASh-82V engines and R-5 gearboxes fitted to Mi-4 helicopters, having restored approximately 15,000 engines and 8,000 gearboxes by 1987. In recognition of its achievements, UZGA was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1981. The company also enhanced its structural analysis techniques for turbine blades and initiated testing programs for NK-8-2 engines.
In the 1990s, UZGA became a pioneer in repairing TV3-117 helicopter engines and was the first Russian enterprise to service GTD-350 engines used in Mi-2 helicopters. By 2003, it had added AI-9V engine repairs to its portfolio; in 2007 it commenced overhauls of NK-12ST engines for gas compressor applications. Production of Diamond light aircraft began in 2013; two years later UZGA was appointed as Textron Aviation’s official representative in Russia and started manufacturing Bell 407 helicopters under license from Bell Helicopter Textron.
Aircraft development and production
Ural Works of Civil Aviation is set to produce both the single-engine 9-seat turboprop local airliner LMS-901 "Baikal" and the twin-engine 44-seat turboprop regional airliner TVRS-44 "Ladoga".
Development of the LMS-901 started in 2019, culminating in its maiden flight on January 30, 2022.
Following EU sanctions, manufacturing of L-410 aircraft was discontinued in 2022.
By that year, the factory had completed assembly on a total of 420 aircraft.
LMS-192
According to Russia’s civil aviation forecast released in May 2024, the LMS-192 Osvey—a high-wing commuter aircraft seating 19 passengers and powered by twin Klimov VK-800 turboprop engines—is planned for production. UZGA is collaborating with Belarusian 558 Aviation Repair Plant to build an initial batch of 20 units in 2027, with annual output increasing to 46 thereafter and targeting a total production volume of 158 by the end of the decade.
Aircraft
| Aircraft | Category | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Industries L-410 NG | Regional airliner | Produced under license; production ceased in 2021 due to insufficient demand. |
| Aircraft Industries L-610 | Regional airliner | Licensed manufacture; development discontinued; evolved into TVRS-44 Ladoga. |
| Bell 407 | Utility helicopter | Manufactured under license. |
| Diamond DA40 | Light aircraft | Licensed production. |
| Diamond DA42 | Light aircraft | Produced under license. |
| UZGA LMS-9 | Utility aircraft | Project discontinued; evolved into LMS-192 Osvey. |
| UZGA LMS-19 | Utility aircraft | |
| UZGA LMS-192 Osvey | Utility aircraft | Equipped with twin Klimov K-800 turboprops; developed jointly with Diamond Aircraft Industries and Belarus’ 558th Repair Plant; flight tests anticipated in 2025. |
| UZGA LMS-901 Baikal | Utility aircraft | Powered by Klimov K-800 turboprop; flight trials currently use General Electric H80 engines during development phase. |
| UZGA TVRS-44 Ladoga | Regional airliner | Fitted with two Klimov TV7-117 engines; scheduled for flight testing in 2025. |
| UZGA UTS-800 | Trainer aircraft | 'Local adaptation of Diamond DART series featuring Klimov VK-800 turboprop; serves as a complement to Yakovlev Yak-130 lead-in fighter trainer; flight testing underway using General Electric H80 powerplants. |
| IAI UZGA Forpost | Reconnaissance UAV / Unmanned combat aerial vehicle | Licensed version of Israeli IAI Searcher drone; production continues with Forpost-R and Forpost-RE variants incorporating Russian components. |
| Sokol UZGA Altius | Unmanned aerial vehicle / Unmanned combat aerial vehicle | Serial manufacture of heavy unmanned combat aerial system designed by Sokol Aircraft Plant. |
Sanctions
This facility faces restrictions imposed by the European Union, United States, Canada, and Australia, which affect its global business activities and ability to enter international markets.