Part of long-term development plans

Published: 7/5/2000

Kazan Helicopter Plant has announced an investment of 70m rubles ($2.8m) in the plant during 2000, which will be largely spent on the replacement of equipment. Some 30% of the plant's equipment will be replaced although this proportion appears high given the size of the funds available. Additional reports suggest that the funds will be focused on equipment related to the production of polymer blades, which Kazan hopes to certify for serial production in 2001 for use on the Mi-8, Mi-38, Ansat and Aktai. According to Alexander Lavrentyev, General Director, the plant has invested 'several millions of dollars' in the new blade, although given the relatively modest amounts available to Kazan, this appears to be something of an overstatement of Kazan's investment. The blade is however, part of a longer-term development plan for the plant and Mil, reflecting some of the developments made for the Mi-28. The blade is claimed to increase speed, improve the rate of climb and the helicopter's ceiling, despite raising the take-off weight by 500kgs. In addition, the blade, which will be tested n an Mi-8 at Mil in Moscow, will have a lifetime two to three times longer than existing blades. The upgraded helicopter, equipped with Honeywell avionics, first revealed in 1997 and also known as the Mi-17D, has been the subject of considerable investment by both Kazan and Mil with extensive overhaul of the production at Kazan in the last year to produce the new helicopter. The major expense for the production will be the purchase (in 2001) of an autoclave to mould the large polymer parts for the project, which is reported to have cost $2.5m. Additional workers will also be employed for production, with the company claiming 600-800 new hires. The upgrade also includes an improved engine and better access with an enlarged left door and a newly installed right door. Customers are reported to be waiting in the wings for the new aircraft, but to date there has been no confirmation of buyers although there have been reports of the potential sale of the aircraft to South Korea. Kazan's other programmes continue to struggle to find backing for their considerable development costs, with the Aktai three-seat light helicopter first revealed at the Moscow air show in 1997, but still looking for the $10m that is required to get the helicopter into serial production. The company expects the third prototype to fly this year, at a cost of $1.5m and is reported to have interest in the helicopter from Gazprom and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. In serial production the company has a target price for the helicopter of $280,000-300,000. The ongoing cooperation between Kazan and Mil with Eurocopter through Euromil on the Mi-38 continues, with the blades of the new helicopter due to be delivered to Mil shortly for testing. The prototype is expected to be flying by the end of 2000, although earlier reports from Mil suggested that 2001 was a more likely date for the rollout of the 15 tonne helicopter. The programme however, continues to have funding shortfalls and Eurocopter are consistently cool about their level of commitment in the $400-500m programme, of which the international helicopter maker has a 30% share. The programme has been prominent in the various leaks relating to the favoured programmes in the new Federal programme for aerospace 2001-2015, so government money may be forthcoming for the continued development of the helicopter estimated to cost between $14 and $18m when in production.

Article ID: 1914