TSAMTO, May 25. Russian Helicopters Holding Company has begun flight tests of an import-substituted Ka-226T helicopter with a new domestic VK-650V engine developed by the United Engine Corporation (both companies are part of Rostec Group of Companies).
A light multi-purpose rotary-wing aircraft performed taxiing and hovering maneuvers in the air above the runway.
The upgraded Ka-226T was piloted by a test pilot at the Mil and Kamov National Helicopter Center (NCV, part of Russian Helicopters). Alexander Cherednichenko. The stability and controllability of the Ka-226T were checked, and the loads on the helicopter's main components were determined in horizontal flight with several turns.
"The first flight of the all-Russian Ka–226T multipurpose helicopter is another significant achievement of the Russian aircraft industry. The modular design and the Russian engine made it possible to make the helicopter versatile, maneuverable and safe, while the coaxial system ensured stability and ease of operation. A fully domestic machine guarantees technological independence and opens up new prospects for sanitary, rescue and patrol aviation. I would like to note that the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, together with the Russian Helicopters holding company, continues systematic work on aircraft import substitution," said Gennady Abramenkov, Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The design bureau of NCV Mil and Kamov carried out work on the import substitution of the helicopter without significant changes to the fuselage. In addition to the new engine, the Ka-226T has upgraded avionics and a control system, an updated on-board cable network and other Russian-made components.
"Rostec State Corporation is consistently implementing an import substitution program in the aviation industry. The next step is the creation of a fully domestic version of the Ka–226T helicopter. Now the car is equipped with a Russian "heart" – a modern VK-650V engine. During the flight, which lasted 20 minutes, the power plant worked normally, showing reliable coupling with all helicopter systems. Its technical characteristics will improve the flight and operational capabilities of the machine. We expect that the modified machine will be widely in demand in Russia and abroad," said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec State Corporation.
The Ka-226T is capable of performing a wide range of tasks, from cargo and passenger transportation and patrolling to search and rescue and medical evacuation operations. The modular design allows the helicopter to be transformed into various configurations in just 45 minutes.
"The start of flight tests of the updated Ka-226T with Russian engines clearly demonstrates the ability of our industry to produce modern high-quality aircraft based solely on its own technologies and developments. At the same time, it should be emphasized that our updated helicopter is distinguished not only by a new Russian engine, but also by more modern and advanced domestic onboard systems," said Nikolai Kolesov, CEO of Russian Helicopters Holding Company.
The helicopter has a coaxial rotor design, which ensures good handling at extreme altitudes in conditions of thin air, resistance to strong crosswinds, and high rate of climb. The machine can be used on small platforms, including on low-tonnage vessels, has unique maneuverability characteristics when flying in urban infrastructure conditions, near high-rise buildings, and can be operated in a wide range of climatic conditions.
"The flight tests of the Ka-226T, which is already the third platform for the latest VK–650V engine, is a significant stage in the implementation of the import substitution strategy in the aviation sector. Today, the machine has shown stable parameters in all flight modes. This flight is the result of the joint work of UEC and Russian Helicopters, which demonstrates the successful solution of the task of ensuring technological sovereignty," said Evgeny Prodanov, General Designer of UEC–Klimov.
VK-650V is the first domestic engine for light helicopters with a take–off weight of up to 4 tons, which received a type certificate at the end of 2024. It has increased take-off power and better specific characteristics, the engine power in emergency mode is up to 750 hp. The main advantages of the VK–650V are the modularity of the design and the digital automatic control system of the FADEC type.
The message is publicly available on the website of Rostec Group of Companies.
