Ural Works of Civil Aviation (UWCA) has launched mass production of single-engine Diamond DA-40 and twin-engine Diamond DA-42 aircraft developed by Diamond Aircraft Industries, Interfax-AVN reports.

“So far UWCA has manufactured around 100 Diamond aircraft,” a source close to the industry said. He added that last year the first batch of 50 Diamond DA-40 aircraft was manufactured; this year the production of Diamond DA-40 continued and mass production of Diamond DA-42 airliners was launched.

“Diamond DA-40 and Diamond DA-42 aircraft are used in Russia as training aircraft. They are purchased by St. Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation and Ulyanovsk Higher Civil Aviation School,” the source said.

According to him, UWCA is carrying out final assembly of airframe (made of composites) delivered from foreign countries. “It is planned to increase the number of components manufactured in Russia for both aircraft in the near term,” he added.

It was reported earlier that production program for 2014 includes production of 65 Diamond DA-40 aircraft, in 2015 and 2016 - 60 and 70 ones respectively. The enterprise was going to start the installation of a line for production of composite components and glass cockpits in 2014. At that the solutions offered by Russian enterprises will also be used. It is expected that the UWCA will implement a full production cycle in 2016 and the number of jobs will increase from 100 to 500 ones. 

The contract between UWCA and Diamond Aircraft Industries (Austria) was signed in June 2013. According to the document the Austrian party will transfer technologies for production of composite airframe and diesel aircraft engines. 

UWCA is the largest enterprise for production of components and repair of engines for Mi and Ka helicopters. The enterprise also manufactures UAVs for Russian Ministry of Defense and light civil aircraft. UWCA is part of Oboronprom Corporation.