On December 30, 2020, the state Corporation Rostec announced that the demonstrator of the new domestic VK-650V turboshaft engine, which will replace imported powerplants for Ka-226T helicopters, was assembled and installed on a test stand at UEC-Klimov of the United Engine Corporation. Its preparation for engineering tests is being completed.
The first demonstrator of the VK-650V turboshaft engine developed by UEC-Klimov (c) Rostec Group
The VK-650V engine has a take-off power of 650 hp and is designed for use in Russian Ka-226T light class helicopters. It is also possible to install it on Ansat-U, VRT-500 helicopters and foreign helicopters of the same class of payload. In 2023, the unit is planned to be certified, and by 2024-to start its serial production.
As part of the test stand, a new power frame and hydraulic brake were installed, a fuel-oil system specially designed for the VK-650V engine dimension was installed, and a modern control panel was equipped.
"The test stand was created in a very short time, a large cooperation of UEC and Rostec enterprises is involved in the project. The task is to make a simple and reliable unit in operation, which has an optimal combination of power characteristics, weight and size parameters, fuel consumption and price. We plan to produce prototypes in 2021-2022, and in 2023 to receive a certificate for this engine, after which we will start mass production, " said Yuri Shmotin, Deputy General Director and General Designer of UEC.
According to the results of the upcoming tests, the engine design will be refined. The power plant will not be inferior to its foreign counterparts in terms of its characteristics, and in the future it will be adapted for use with drones and light aircraft.
Enterprises of the V. V. Chernyshev MMP, UEC-UMPO and the Salyut production complex, as well as CAMZ, which is part of the Rostec State Corporation, participate in cooperation on the VK-650V project. In particular, the specialists of MMP named after V. V. Chernyshev provided UEC-Klimov with details of a centrifugal compressor, UEC-UMPO produced a free turbine rotor, a combustion chamber and a turbine support unit, and PC Salyut delivered the first sample of the gearbox.
