RD-600 set to undercut foreign counterparts according to company

Published: 3/3/2000

This year, Rybinsk Motors intends to begin production of a new RD-600 engine, principally developed for the Ka-60 helicopter, designed by Kamov, although current reports make it unclear where the military helicopter will go into production. Trials so far indicate that the engine matches its foreign counterparts, but is 20-30% cheaper. The potential market is estimated to be 1500 engines over the next five years, with the production of the civilian version of the Ka-60 expected to boost this to 2500hp. The 2500hp turboshaft engine development began in 1998 in joint venture with General Electric, with GE responsible for the gas generator and Rybinsk, for the overall design and the turbine. The new engine is also intended to replace the ageing TV3-117 from ZMBK Progress/Motor-CISh and to be fitted on a wide range of aircraft including the Su-80 multipurpose STOL aircraft, although the latter is currently using the GE engine the CT-7-9B partially produced by Rybinsk, in its imminent certification trials. Rybinsk estimated in 1998, that the market for the new engine would number “several thousand” by 2015. Associated article: www.concise.org. 24th April 1998

Article ID: 1514