The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade (Minpromtorg) has announced tenders for the enhancement of operational capabilities of the “Ansat-M” and Mi-38 helicopters, as reported on the government procurement website. The overall budget for the projects amounts to 5.7 billion roubles (£52 million). Works are scheduled for completion by December 2027.
For the “Ansat,” key objectives include the replacement of foreign-sourced components, increasing the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to 3,800 kg, and the introduction of an anti-icing system. The contract value is 3.95 billion roubles (£36 million). Concurrently, development is underway on the domestically-produced VK-650V engine, which will supersede the Canadian Pratt & Whitney powerplants. The first flight with the new engine is slated for April 2024, with series production deliveries commencing in 2026.
The Mi-38-2 will receive upgraded transmission units and a rotor system. A sum of 1.76 billion roubles (£16 million) has been allocated for this purpose. The helicopter is already fitted with Russian-made TV7-117V engines, but the programme envisages further enhancement of the service life of key components.
Certification of the import-substituted “Ansat” is due for completion by the end of 2025. Dmitry Yadrov, head of Rosaviatsia (Federal Agency for Air Transport), noted that static strength testing of the rotor has already been completed. The first VK-650V units have been delivered for installation on helicopters and have been successfully ground-tested.
The VK-650V engine has received a Type Certificate, confirming its compliance with airworthiness regulations. Its development spanned five years, from 2019 to 2024. In addition to the “Ansat,” it will be used on the Ka-226T helicopters, and potentially on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the future.
Prior to the 2022 sanctions, Russia was reliant on foreign suppliers: “Ansats” flew with Pratt & Whitney engines, and Ka-226s with Safran engines. Currently, ODK-Klimov is providing the country with powerplants for various classes of aircraft, including the VK-2500 for “Mi” and “Ka” helicopters, as well as the TV7-117ST-01 for the Il-114-300 aircraft.
Under a comprehensive aviation industry development programme, aircraft factories will deliver 765 helicopters by 2030, including 187 “Ansats” and 39 Mi-38s.
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