Russia Debuts Revolutionary UTS-800 Trainer Aircraft at IDEX-2025 in Abu Dhabi
Russia’s newest training aircraft, the UTS-800, will debut at an international event during the International Defence Exhibition and Conference IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi (UAE), scheduled from February 17 to 21. This announcement originates from the official representative of The Ural Works of Civil Aviation (JSC UWCA), the organization responsible for the aircraft’s design and production.
The UTS-800 training aircraft is a Russian turboprop model aimed at initial flight instruction and professional pilot selection. This aircraft is designed for training in flying techniques, performing spins and recovering from them, essential navigation, emergency procedures, instrument flying maneuvers, and group operations. The UTS-800 accommodates a crew of two, arranged in a tandem configuration: the trainee in the front and the instructor in the rear. It can also be operated solo without requiring an aircraft balance weight.
The aircraft’s design emphasizes simplicity and reliability, crucial elements during its development phase. These goals were effectively achieved thanks to the aerodynamic features of the UTS-800.
The UTS-800 aircraft is recognized for its outstanding maneuverability and cost-effective operating expenses. It is equipped with a turboprop engine, ejector seats, a standard oxygen supply system, air conditioning, an anti-icing system, and a variety of advanced onboard technologies. An anti-g suit is employed to enhance crew tolerance against aerobatic g-loads. The aircraft can endure permissible g-loads ranging from +7 to -4. The UTS-800 showcases a high power-to-weight ratio, exceptional agility, remarkable speed, and can conduct operations both night and day. Its operational temperature range is from -30 °C to +45 °C. The aircraft can achieve a maximum speed of 460 km/h, with a flight range of 1200 km and a maximum altitude of 6000 m. It is capable of operating from both paved and unpaved runways.
The airframe of the UTS-800 is constructed using advanced Russian composite materials. The UWCA has the capability to create composite components and has developed innovative repair technologies. The selected materials are confirmed to be produced for the upcoming decades, as they are also utilized in various projects by other Russian aviation companies.
The inaugural flight of the initial UTS-800 aircraft took place in October 2023. The flights confirmed the accuracy of the major technical and ergonomic choices made. According to the participating pilots, the aircraft demonstrates stability and control, is user-friendly, and compensates for piloting mistakes. The essential flight and technical characteristics—landing speed, takeoff speed, and an assessment of stability and control—were also analyzed based on test results. To accelerate the testing procedure, additional aircraft are incorporated into the program.
The first two aircraft were handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defense by the end of 2024 and are actively involved in the testing program. The export variant mock-up of the UTS-800 is currently being exhibited as part of the collaborative Russian showcase at IDEX 2025.
“The UTS-800 training aircraft boasts excellent performance metrics and shares components and ergonomic concepts with Russian military aircraft. If foreign nations choose Russian military aircraft and select the UTS-800 for training, it could considerably enhance their pilot training efficiency. The UTS-800 training aircraft, powered by a turboprop engine, will offer economical training opportunities for many pilots. Depending on the order volume by potential foreign clients and their financing capacity for R&D projects, modifications and adaptations of the aircraft can be tailored to fulfill specific needs,” asserts the official representative of JSC UWCA.
JSC UWCA is a Russian aerospace manufacturing company specializing in the design, production, testing, repair, and maintenance of aviation equipment, assemblies, and parts.
