Russian Civil Helicopters: News

I did not find the topic of civil helicopter construction in Russia, so I created this thread.

The Russian Ka-62 helicopter will receive a new improved control system for onboard equipment. The new product will be presented at the international aviation and space salon MAKS-2021. 

As explained in KRET, the new control system for general helicopter equipment will reduce the load on the crew, reduce the weight of the equipment used in the helicopter and facilitate the maintenance of the helicopter. It is modular and allows you to easily replace the blocks. The development of the new control system specifically for the KA-62 was carried out by Aeropribor-Voskhod, which is part of KRET. 

Currently, three copies of the new system are being manufactured, which will be handed over for flight and qualification tests by the end of the year. 

The Ka-62 multi-purpose medium helicopter is based on the Ka-60 military helicopter. It's designed for cargo transportation, emergency medical care, aerial work and surveillance.

Russian Helicopters handed over the second Ansat to the Republika Srpska. 


Russian Helicopters Holding has handed over the Ansat helicopter to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina). This is the second helicopter produced by the Kazan Helicopter Plant, delivered under a contract for three helicopters. 

In the Ansat helicopter for the needs of the police of the Republika Srpska, places have been prepared for the installation of searchlights, a parachute-free landing system, a winch and an external suspension. The helicopter is equipped with a loudspeaker. In the cabin there are six seats for the transport of passengers. The helicopter is equipped with an active vibration damping system.

"Ansat was delivered to the customer on time, this is the first production helicopter, which is supposed to use a winch and external suspension. The third helicopter under this contract will be delivered to the foreign customer in 2022, " said Alexey Belykh, Managing Director of the Kazan Helicopter Plant.

Also, under the current contract, as part of the phased training of flight and technical personnel, five representatives of the customer were trained at the aviation training center of the Kazan Helicopter Plant. The program included a theoretical, training and practical educational program. All the cadets successfully completed their training and received the relevant documents.

Other photo of the Ansat helicopter for Republika Srpska

Ka-32A11BC helicopters of the Department of Emergency Situations of Thailand. The contract for the supply of two Ka-32A11BC medium multi-purpose vehicles to Thailand was signed in 2017, the delivery of helicopters to the customer was carried out in July 2019.

New BAS-200 helicopter drone at MAKS-2021

Mi-38 for the boss.

Ka-226T

Mi-171A3 looks beautiful

Gazprom and Russian Helicopters have signed a cooperation agreement on the supply of the first Russian offshore helicopters.

Under the terms of the agreement, Russian Helicopters will provide tests of the Mi-171A3 prototype, organize serial production and certification of helicopters. Service centers for aircraft maintenance, training and training centers for training flight technical personnel will also be created.

Gazprom intends to purchase Mi-171A3 helicopters in accordance with current needs, place orders for repair and maintenance. They are planned to be used for work on the fields of the continental shelf. 

The Russian Helicopters Holding Company has signed a contract with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the supply of 9 Mi-38PS helicopters in the Arctic version until 2024.

The search and rescue Mi-38PS will be able to provide an unprecedented range of rescue missions, it is able to fly with a crew and three rescuers at a distance of up to 750 kilometers, evacuate people in distress and return to base. To do this, the helicopter will be equipped with additional fuel tanks, and the maximum take-off weight of the helicopter will be increased.

With the help of special devices, the Mi-38PS will be able to extinguish fires and deal with the consequences of an emergency spill of petroleum products. Nodes for rigid mooring on the parking lot will allow helicopters to land on icebreaker-class vessels, for example, to be used from icebreakers of the project 22220 (LK-60YA) of the Arctic type, which will expand the possibilities for the Mi-38 to operate in Arctic latitudes.

Ansat helicopter will get a new sound insulation system. 

Kazan Helicopter Plant of the Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation), together with Mecaer Avition Group , has completed the first stage of developing a noise reduction system for the Ansat helicopter. The new technical solution will provide an unprecedented level of comfort in flight for passengers.

The noise reduction system is a sound-absorbing panel that is installed between the fuselage structure and the ceiling trim panels. It is made of advanced sound-proofing materials that provide best-in-class performance in terms of noise and weight. To further improve the sound insulation of helicopters in the VIP configuration, the design of the interior panels has been changed, as well as the material for their manufacture: a special polymer composite material is used, between the layers of which highly efficient sound-absorbing elements are glued.

"At MAKS-2021, as a demonstration sample, we presented a sound-absorbing panel that will be used in the new noise reduction system on the Ansat-M helicopter. As a result of applying this technical solution, the noise level in the VIP configuration will be 75 dB" said the Deputy Managing Director and Chief Designer of the KVZ Design Bureau Alexey Garipov.

After certification, the noise reduction system will be optionally installed on Ansat helicopters in passenger, medical and VIP versions. It will also be possible to retrofit helicopters in service with new equipment.

Among the advantages of the new system – no impact on the size of the cab, easy installation and disassembly, easy access for maintenance.

Source: https://rhc.aero/media/ansat_poluchit_novyu_sistemu_zvukoizolyatsii

Russian Ka-226 helicopter may be made unmanned. 

The Russian Helicopters Holding Company of Rostec State Corporation is considering the possibility of creating a version of the Ka-226 helicopter with an optional control system that allows you to perform a flight without the participation of a pilot. This was announced to TASS by Oleg Landin, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Russian Helicopters JSC. 

"We will probably develop a 1 thousand kg UAV based on a coaxial scheme similar to the Ka-226, the modular design of which allows us to do this quite quickly, in our opinion" - he said.

Source: https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/11980981

BAS-200 UAV on training flights before participating in the MAKS-2021 flight program

Serbia intends to buy two Ka-32 helicopters from Russia to fight fires. 

Serbia intends to buy two Ka-32 fire-fighting helicopters from Russia to protect its territory from fires. Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic said this on Tuesday on the Pink channel.

"We are going to buy two new Kamovs, I think they are Ka-32s, special helicopters that can carry five tons of water each. Now we have helicopters that carry only one ton of water each. Because of the fires that we will have next year, we will buy two Kamov helicopters to protect ourselves and our neighbors around us. You can see that today everyone needs our helicopters, and we will be able to help ourselves and our neighbors more when we buy these fire-fighting helicopters" – Vucic said.

Source: 

Russian_Patriot_ wrote:New BAS-200 helicopter drone at MAKS-2021

Would this replace the model that was imported from Austria?

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/11951989

Kamov future. What to expect from the new Ka-62 helicopter
Roman Azanov / TASS

Among the newest models of aircraft at MAKS-2021 is the Ka-62 multi-purpose medium-class helicopter. The vehicle developed by the Kamov design bureau can be seen both at the static display and in the flight program of the air show. In addition, within the framework of MAKS-2021, the first contract for this car was signed - Gazprombank Leasing became the starting customer for a batch of three cars.

The first test flight of the Ka-62 made not so long ago - on May 25, 2017 at the site of the Arsenyev Aviation Company "Progress" named after. N.I. Sazykina (part of the Russian Helicopters holding of the Rostec state corporation). Since then, the car has been undergoing flight tests, which should be completed in the fall of 2021. Its main areas of application include passenger and cargo transportation, rescue, medical and patrol operations. The Ka-62 can get an offshore version, as well as be used in the Arctic. The designers say that the project was conceived in order to "create a new multipurpose, multifunctional machine and fill the empty niche of domestic medium helicopters." It is expected that the new helicopter will become a worthy addition to the civilian versions of the well-deserved and most massive in the world Mi-8/17 helicopter.

On the eve of MAKS-2021, TASS journalists visited the aircraft plant in Arsenyev, where the Ka-62 helicopter was manufactured and is undergoing flight tests, and where its serial production is already being established.
This helicopter, as is traditionally the case in the Kamov school, was ahead of its time and has its own unique features and advantages in many respects.

The history of the new rotorcraft dates back to the late 1980s, when the Mi-4 helicopter for cargo transportation weighing about 2 tons became obsolete and the niche remained empty. In the early 90s, the Kamov Design Bureau began developing a new army helicopter labeled B-60, which was later named the Ka-60. To increase the flight speed, the Kamovites for the first time, instead of their traditional coaxial scheme, used a tail rotor, which was made in a closed annular channel.

However, in 2010, the Ministry of Defense decided to suspend the project, and part of the Ka-60's reconnaissance and combat functions were given to the Ka-52 model (known as the Alligator). It was decided to stake on the civilian version of this helicopter - the Ka-62.

Test pilot of the 1st class Nail Azin flew in all Kamov machines. On Ka-62 - from the first flights. The total flight time is more than three thousand hours, of which about two thousand are test hours. “On the Ka-62, I’m even at a loss to answer, there are two hundred hours,” he admits. “In the second half of 2020, very intensive work and flights began. -60, except that the appearance is similar. "
The Ka-60 project was suspended, but the strategy of the Russian Helicopters holding provides for joint work with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to resolve the issue of import substitution of components for the Ka-62 helicopter. Together we are discussing the missions that he must fulfill. Therefore, in the future, it can be used in the interests of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

In 2010, the Russian Helicopters holding resumed the civilian project - although the Ka-62 retained a number of design features from its predecessor, it still underwent many changes. Carrying capacity increased to 2 tons in the cab and 2.5 tons on the suspension, French Ardiden 3G with a capacity of 1680 hp began to be used as engines. There were five main rotor blades - one more than in the Ka-60. Also, the Ka-62 implements the "glass cockpit" principle, when all important information and instrument readings are displayed on the screens.
reference

Flight performance of the Ka-62

The maximum take-off weight is 6800 kg. Flight range - 720 km. Service ceiling - 6100 m. Maximum speed - 310 km / h. Cruising speed - 290 km / h. Crew - 2 people. Passenger capacity - 15 people.

The active stage of the project began in 2012 with the presentation of a model of the helicopter of the updated design at the international exhibition of the helicopter industry HeliRussia in Moscow. At the end of May 2017, the Ka-62 made its first test flight at the site of the Arsenyevskaya airline.

Serial production was planned to begin in 2020, however, during preliminary tests at certain speeds, dynamic instability of the helicopter arose. "As a result, it was necessary to make a significant revision of the helicopter - to transfer part of the empennage from the keel to the tail boom. This solution turned out to be effective, and the helicopter was dynamically brought to the parameters required by the technical specifications," Dmitry Bezdetko, director of the Ka-62 project of the Arsenyevskaya airline, told TASS Progress".

According to him, during the tests on this helicopter, it was possible to reach a speed of 315-316 km / h. “It took four months to finalize the empennage, which ensured the confident achievement of such speed, from receiving the draft design documentation to testing. New parts were manufactured, technological development was carried out, the machine was finalized and put into operation,” he explained.
As part of the development work, Progress manufactured five Ka-62 fuselages, three of which are flight fuselages. One (prototype # 2) is at the enterprise, others (# 3 and # 4) - on the territory of the Mil and Kamov National Helicopter Building Center in the Moscow region.

"At the moment, flight tests are underway, the total number of flights performed is 210 out of 365 planned. The leading aircraft number 2 has 240 flight hours. Certification factory tests are planned to be completed in September 2021, then we will switch to the SKI program (certification control tests)," - said Bezdetko.

"We are now working to obtain a type certificate and a manufacturer's certificate for civilian helicopters in 2021," said the technical director of Progress.

Hardened by the Primorsky Territory

As the first deputy managing director - technical director of Arsenyevskaya Progress airline named after V.I. N.I. Sazykina Andrei Semenov, Ka-62 has the ability to autonomously base and hangarless storage. Operation from base airfields, oil platforms, unpaved sites is also possible.

A special feature of the helicopter is the use of polymer composite materials (PCM) in the structure - fiberglass, carbon fiber reinforced plastics, organoplastics, as well as high-strength modern aluminum, titanium alloys and steel. "The volume of PCM structures on the helicopter has been increased to 60% by weight, which increases speed, maneuverability and carrying capacity, as well as reduces fuel consumption," says Semenov, adding that now the whole world is moving in this direction and "we are not lagging behind from the world helicopter industry ".

The Ka-62 is designed for use in a wide range of climatic and geographical conditions at temperatures from –50 to +45 ° С. "In July, in Primorsky Territory, outside the temperature is +32 in the shade, and in the sun, if you hang a thermometer, it will reach +50. Humidity is about 80% - this is considered the norm for the summer period, in winter it, of course, drops," says Bezdetko. "In winter, we conducted tests at -24, launched at -30 in the morning. That is, we tested rather difficult temperature regimes." Thus, the Ka-62 is being prepared both for export around the world and for operation in the most difficult climatic conditions.

Another advantage of the machine, according to the project director, is the scheme with a tail rotor in an annular channel, which was first used in the domestic helicopter industry. "Firstly, it is safety for the personnel, for those who maintain and operate the helicopter. Secondly, the noise is reduced, and the propeller in the ring improves controllability, that is, the generated air flow is more powerful, which allows better control of the helicopter", - he notes.

Ivan Tereshchenko, head of the shop of parts and assemblies made of composite materials, "Progress", told how the enterprise, known for the production of the famous Ka-52 combat helicopters, is mastering the production of new civilian equipment. “More than 60% of the fuselage consists of parts made of composite materials, and these parts are quite voluminous, large. That is, literally six large panels are used to assemble a helicopter fuselage. meters long and two and a half wide, - he notes. - That is, assembly is faster and easier, fewer joints. This gives the helicopter strength and reduces weight. "

As for other innovations in the production of the Ka-62, the plant has mastered new equipment. If until now they worked on metal (aluminum), now they use composite. "First, a master model is made, which completely repeats the contour of the helicopter. A fabric is laid out on it, infused, which then hardens. We remove it, and we get such a" crust "on which we already lay out the main part. Very convenient for repairs, and if something has changed constructively - corrections can be made much faster, easier and cheaper, "says Tereshchenko." We used the same method when we mastered the production of parts for the Mi-171A3 helicopter (the helicopter is manufactured jointly with the Ulan-Ude aircraft plant and the Kazan helicopter plant - Note TASS). We make side panels (doors, hatches), a canopy. Completely composite materials, which are not used on the Ka-52 or Ka-62, the technologies are slightly different. "

At MAKS-2021, the United Engine Corporation presented the VK-1600V demonstrator engine for the Ka-62 helicopter. According to plans, the engine will be overhauled at UEC-Klimov and by the end of the third quarter of 2021 the engine will be ready for the first tests.

"Now this helicopter is undergoing an import substitution program. First of all, the import substitution of engines and transmissions is envisaged. It is planned to equip the Ka-62 helicopter with a VK-1600V engine upon completion of development work and certification of this engine. According to the plan, its certification will be completed within three years ", - says the technical director of" Progress "Semenov.

"I managed to defeat vibration"

“In any tests there are difficulties, I would be more worried if they were not there, which means that they are sitting there somewhere and will come out later,” says pilot Azin. “During the tests, we reached 315 km / h. the altitude for today is 2400 m, but it is obvious that it will increase in the future. "

According to him, the car behaves normally at this altitude and does not require oxygen equipment for the crew. "It is not for nothing that they say that the carrier system is the heart of the helicopter, that is where most of the development and testing costs go, and this manifests itself at all altitudes and at all speeds," he adds.

“During the time that we worked with the Ka-60, we were unable to eliminate high-frequency vibrations, which are extremely unpleasant in the cockpit,” says the pilot. “A new main rotor was made on the Ka-62; of what was on the Ka-60. The fact that we were able to defeat vibration is good not only in terms of comfort. Vibrations are associated with the resource of the units, this immediately creeps out on the cost of a flight hour. "

The Ka-62 helicopter was designed in accordance with international flight safety requirements. "Flight and landing are provided with one engine running. The safety of the pilot and passengers in the event of a rough landing is guaranteed by a set of measures, including the energy-absorbing structure of the landing gear and seats. The tail rotor in the ring is protected from accidental damage. The machine is equipped with effective anti-icing and fire-prevention systems." says the technical director of "Progress".

According to the developers, the Ka-62 is equipped with a new generation general helicopter equipment control system in order to ensure flights in simple and difficult weather conditions and to build an automatic approach maneuver, as well as to provide communication, navigation and data transmission.

Attractiveness and prospects

According to Semenov, the Ka-62 is attractive to operators primarily for its size, cargo efficiency, speed and economy. "On local airlines, as practice shows, most of the orders are for the carriage of up to 15 passengers or cargo weighing up to 2 tons. The Ka-62 is ideal for these tasks - it will not carry" air ", which will have a positive effect on the profitability of operation."

The technical director of Progress also emphasizes that the Ka-62 is cheaper than its foreign counterparts, and its practical flight range makes this helicopter attractive for regional aviation.
If we look at the map of our homeland, then we have a developed network of highways only in its western part, but people also live in the Far North and Far East, there is a need to carry out medical transportation, delivery of goods and transport people. And this is where all the advantages of our Ka-62 come in handy as never before. It occupies a unique niche that was empty before - helicopters of this class have simply not been produced in our country since the Soviet Mi-4.

“Today we have an agreement with the administration of the Primorsky Territory. The first serial helicopters are planned to be transferred for the needs of intra-regional aviation for sanitary routes, transportation of Primorye,” says Semyonov. crew cabin, which is very important when dealing with infectious diseases. "

Also, according to him, the Ka-62 is convenient for the Far Eastern routes through remote settlements in the north of the region, given the fact that there are already flight bases in Primorye and a retraining center for pilots on modern simulators. "The Ka-62 is very much needed both for the Far East and for the whole country. We have huge distances, not all settlements can be equipped with airports," says the technical director of Progress.
If you saw how he flies, you might have noticed how easily, gracefully and naturally he gains altitude, how quickly he accelerates and how gracefully he maneuvers on the aerobatics that the pilot gives him. Therefore, there are a number of characteristics that we can be proud of and which have already been verified in test programs.

"There is a lot of work ahead, there is always something to improve. But I believe that at this stage the car is well established, we have practically brought it to a serial state," admits test pilot Nail Azin.

The Ka-62 is designed for passenger transportation (including VIP), offshore operations, emergency medical care, aerial work and surveillance, cargo transportation inside the cabin and on an external sling, patrolling and environmental monitoring. "Due to the height of the practical ceiling of more than 6,000 m, it can also carry out search and rescue and evacuation work in mountainous areas. Potential customers of the helicopter are civil airlines performing regional transportation and offshore operations, as well as government and commercial structures. The estimated market size by 2030 for Ka -62-260 helicopters, that is, 15 aircraft per year ", - at the end of the conversation, Semenov notes.

“The Ka-62 is a versatile helicopter capable of performing a wide range of tasks. It will not only occupy a vacant niche in the domestic market, but will also move abroad, foreign customers are already showing great interest in it. Taking into account the plans to create offshore modifications of the aircraft in promising markets for the Ka-62 are the countries that are working on the shelf, in particular in the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia and Latin America, "the Rostec aviation cluster said.

TASS would like to thank the press service of the Russian Helicopters holding and the Arsenyev Progress airline named after N.I. Sazykina

Would this replace the model that was imported from Austria?

I hope so.

It is not like they didn't have other options too... there were a few Kamov designs and I would think Mil would get involved in UAV design and development.

The helicopter "Ansat" of the air ambulance landed hard in Ivanovo, there were no injuries. One of the blades broke off and flew into a nearby car. 

At MAKS-2023, a helicopter with an intelligent cabin of the future will be shown. 

Navigator Institute of Aviation Instrumentation plans to participate in the next MAKS air show in 2023 together with "Russian Helicopters" will show flights of a helicopter with a fully touch-sensitive intelligent cabin of the future, Navigator CEO Sergey Baburov told to RIA Novosti.

"I hope that we will fly with such a cabin on the next MAX. It will be a technology demonstrator based on the Mi helicopter. I don't think the entire test cycle will be completed at the time of the show on MAX yet. We need to understand to what extent this decision is applicable and has a future" – he said at the Army-2021 forum.

Baburov said that the new cabin will be a one-and-a-half-meter touch-screen LCD matrix, the control panel between the pilots is also planned to be made touch-sensitive. The built-in flight algorithm displays the corridor that the pilot must enter, just like in a computer game, the developer explained.

Now Navigator, together with the Research and Testing Center for Aerospace Medicine and Military Ergonomics, is investigating the behavior of pilots in order to understand how comfortable such a cabin will be. All aspects of the pilot's behavior are checked to make the flight as safe as possible.

"Both civilian and military pilots who test the new cockpit on a full-scale stand give the most positive feedback. They say that they don't look at the cabin space at all, they only need a cabin, it's very convenient" – Baburov added.

The main technological task he called the creation of a display. No one produces matrices of this size, so Navigator connects three matrices into a single whole. You need to combine them in such a way that no pixel fragments form on the sides of the matrices, and think about connecting the connectors of the three matrices.

At the same time, Baburov assured that the new cabin will not be unnecessarily expensive. Various functions will be integrated into a single block.

"This solution will combine functions, reduce the number of units, expensive components, respectively, and reduce testing, production capacity and costs. The weight of the equipment will be less. Less weight of iron, less costs for this iron" - the General Director of Navigator said.

Source: 

Ka-62 and VRT500 helicopters and VRT300 helidrone at preparation for the opening of the Eastern Economic Forum 2021 in Vladivostok

VRT-500 has the potential to become ​a real monemaker if it his mask production

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia will receive four Arctic Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopters. 

The agreement on the supply of four Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopters in the Arctic execution within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum was signed between the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAZ) and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. The agreement was signed by Alexey Kozlov, Managing Director of UUAZ, and Viktor Yatsutsenko, Deputy Head of the EMERCOM of Russia.

According to the document, a firm supply contract will be concluded in September. Two helicopters will be delivered to the customer in 2022, and two more in 2023.

"Helicopters of this modification have been flying in the Arctic for several thousand hours and have proven themselves perfectly in the harsh northern conditions" – Alexey Kozlov, managing director of UUAZ, said during the signing of the agreement. He stressed that the heating system of the transmission units allows the helicopter to quickly start the engines even in the most severe frost.

Flights over long distances between the points of basing are provided by installing external additional fuel tanks. When using them, the helicopter can fly for more than 7 hours at a range of up to 1400 km. The safety of the crew and passengers is increased by the use of special marine rescue suits.

Serial production of the Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopter at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant began in 2015. Currently, taking into account the developments and operational experience of the Mi-8AMTSh-VA, the first Mi-8AMT civilian helicopter with a similar set of optional equipment for use in the Arctic has been created.

Source: 

The Ansat medical helicopter made a hard landing on the Votkinsky highway in Izhevsk, four people on board were not previously injured.


As a result of the incident, one of the passengers, a paramedic, received a head injury. Currently, he is being examined in the emergency department of the hospital. The patient who was hospitalized was sent to the department according to the disease profile.

Second hard landing on Ansat in less than a month! This is not good.