Russian Helicopters Holding Company of the Rostec State Corporation will present ambulance and business versions of the Ansat helicopter and unmanned aerial system BAS-200 at the International Helicopter Industry Exhibition HeliRussia 2022.

Participants and guests of the exhibition will have an opportunity to see the modernized Ansat in an ambulance version, as supplied for the National Air Ambulance Service (NSSA). The helicopter is now fitted with a “glass cockpit” electronic display system. Integrated onboard radio-electronic equipment is produced by the Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies. The Ansat cabins were prepared for the installation of medical modules. These aircraft are designed to transport one patient accompanied by two medical specialists. 

First modernized Ansat ambulances for NSSA are on duty in Tambov, Tula, Ryazan, Beslan, Novosibirsk, Samara and other cities and regions. Due to the short takeoff preparation time important for emergency medevac the Ansat is an efficient air ambulance. 

Kazan Helicopter Plant and NSSA have signed contracts for 66 helicopters at the MAKS-2021 air show. As of today the Medical Service of Rostec has received 24 helicopters (14 Ansats and 10 Mi-8), with a total of 66 aircraft to be delivered: 29 Mi-8MTV-1 and 37 Ansats. The development of the regional air ambulance service is part of the Health Care National Project.

Another exhibit is Ansat Aurus, a certified version of the premium Ansat helicopter. The first Ansat Aurus has already been used for business flights at official events.

Ansat Aurus Design project was created by specialists of FSUE “NAMI”, the leading Russian scientific organization specializing in automotive development, the developer and manufacturer of the Aurus luxury cars brand. 

The unmanned helicopter-based aerial system BAS-200 presented at the exhibition is suitable for a wide range of operations: area monitoring, cargo delivery, search and rescue missions and agricultural work. The maximum takeoff weight of the drone is 200 kilograms. It can speed up to 160 km/h and carry a payload of up to 50 kg. At the same time, the BAS-200 is capable of flying up to 4 hours at altitudes up to 3900 meters.

BAS-200 is currently undergoing a cycle of flight tests. The aircraft is adapted to different weather conditions. A series of test flights were conducted in December 2021, during which an airborne gravity survey using a UAV was performed for the first time. The tests were conducted jointly with the specialists of Aerogeophysica and Gazpromneft R&D center and confirmed the general possibility of performing airborne gravity measurements with the new generation of airborne gravity meters using UAVs as carriers.

The development of the BAS-200 project and flight tests of the UAV are conducted by the Mil and Kamov National Center for Helicopter Engineering. As part of the HeliRussia 2022 business program the Mil and Kamov specialists will hold the conference “Regional demand priorities for the UAVs application: Cases and prospects”  to discuss possible applications of UAVs, priorities, and market demand for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Successfull test of VК-1600V engine for Ка-62

Twenty-five successful starts of the VK-1600V demonstrator engine were performed at the test facility of Rostec United Engine Corporation’s ODK-Klimov. The tests continue. 

An experimental work package was carried out during the tests of VK-1600V demonstrator engine: adjustment of the engine start-up; checking of joint functioning of the units and systems in various modes; assessment of the obtained parameters for compliance with the product specifications.

The engineering tests confirmed the engine’s compliance with the characteristics of the first stage of adjustment.  Totally, 25 successful starts were made. Stable operation of the compressor, stable ignition of the combustion chamber, compliance of the vibration level with the established standards were registered.

“In the near future, the tests of the demonstrator engine with improved design elements will be continued, and the units’ operation within autonomous plants will be checked. In addition, this year we plan to manufacture pilot samples for certification tests”, Vsevolod Yeliseev, general designer of JSC ODK-Klimov, said.

VK-1600V engine developed by JSC ODK-Klimov is designed for installation on multi-purpose and special helicopters with a takeoff mass of 5-8 tons. The first object of its application is the modern multi-purpose helicopter Ka-62.

The engine design allows further development of various modifications (including for use in unmanned aircraft and within the power plant of light passenger and regional cargo planes) and expansion of the range of engines of VK-1600 family. 

VK-1600V capacity in the takeoff mode is 1400 horse powers, in the mode of 2.5 minute capacity, in case of engine failure, 1750 horse powers. Specific fuel consumption in the takeoff mode is 200 g/HP-hr. The FADEC electronic system of automatic control is used with the engine. The BARK-15V automatic regulation and control unit has dual-channel architecture, compact dimensions, and combines the functions of instrumentation and control of the engine systems, and has the functions of failure diagnostics and troubleshooting. VK-1600V engines have high indicators of reliability and cost effectiveness, the engines will be operated according to their technical condition.

From May 19 to 21, the VK-1600V demonstrator engine will be displayed at the exposition of the JSC ODK test bench of HeliRussia exhibition.

Ansat helicopter with VK-650V engine

JSC ODK Klimov of Rostec United Engine Corporation is working on adapting the VK-650V for the engine replacement in Ansat, Ka-226T and other helicopters. As of now, an addendum to the terms of reference has been drawn up, and coordination schedules for the helicopters and the engine are being finalized. State-of-the-art “digital twin” technology will be applied for further development of the engine. This technology enables high-performance computing, control system development, simulation of field tests, and optimization of automated data exchange and data processing.

“Considering the wide application opportunities of the VK-650V, bench tests will be carried out with the prototypes of the commonality-based engine. This year we have to provide the Ansat helicopter with full-scale mock-ups for systems layout, and next year we have to supply the engines for flight tests. In 2024 we plan to obtain a type certificate for a domestic turboshaft engine for Ansat and Ka-226T helicopters,” said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy CEO of Rostec State Corporation.

The advantages of the VK-650V include modular design, long engine life, and digital auto-regulation system of the FADEC type. The commonality-based engine is suitable for various types of multi-purpose helicopters, both in twin-engine and single-engine versions. Engineering tests of the power plant are currently underway. In 2019, UEC has initiated the development of an engine in the 500-600 hp class. The main developer of the engine is JSC ODK Klimov. The demonstrator engine was built in 2020, and the first launch with combustion chamber ignition took place in January 2021. The first prototype engine was also manufactured last year.