At a meeting in Volgograd on April 29, President Vladimir Putin proposed to Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko the creation of a joint aviation consortium “on the Airbus model,” reported Vedomosti. The initiative seeks to rebuild the Russian aviation industry hobbled by sanctions and ensure domestic production of medium-haul passenger planes and military drones.
Putin emphasised that Western sanctions have halted deliveries of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, grounded service for existing fleets, and cut off critical components. “We are ready to lay the foundations for the future factory together with your specialists and the appropriate research institute,” Putin told Lukashenko, highlighting the strategic importance for both economies.
Belarus’s aviation sector spared major post-Soviet decline will contribute precision electronic systems and components, notably from factories in Minsk and Baranovichi that historically supplied Tupolev and military aircraft. Putin praised Belarus’s intact production capabilities and proposed building a joint factory and R&D centre to develop drones urgently needed by the military.
Russian attempts to source parts from China proved insufficient, as Chinese suppliers cannot transfer Western-derived technologies under sanctions. By forming a consortium with Belarus, Russia aims for maximum self-sufficiency, avoiding further reliance on foreign imports.
Historical precedents temper expectations: the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-144 dubbed “Konkordzki” in the West premiered before Concorde but was scrapped due to high costs, limited range, and reliability issues. Putin acknowledged past lessons but asserted that modern collaboration with Belarus’s supply chain expertise can succeed where previous ventures failed.
Beyond civilian aircraft, the agreement likely extends to military aviation. Belarus’s service plants maintained operations after the USSR’s collapse, servicing Russian Air Force jets, and continue providing documentation and components. Russia, meanwhile, has preserved its military manufacturing under a centralised supply system, keeping fighter production on track despite sanctions.
Putin noted that detailed plans for advanced aviation cooperation remain under discussion. As sanctions drive Moscow to find Western-proof solutions, the Russian–Belarusian consortium represents a bold bid to recreate an indigenous aerospace champion.
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