The United Engine Corporation (UEC) has started testing the VK-650V engine, which is planned to be installed on light helicopters such as the Ka-226T and Ansat-U, Rostec reported.
"The power plant, which has no analogues in Russia, has been successfully launched at the UEC-Klimov test stand in St. Petersburg," the press service of the state corporation reported.
At the moment, experts performed the first of four parts of the test program: made the first start-up, assess key parameters of the product, debugged systems work together stand and motor.
"Modern approaches to the design and manufacture of the engine, including the use of 3D printing, made it possible to manufacture the demonstrator and start testing on schedule. The engine started from the first time, the expected characteristics during the first start are confirmed. This is the beginning of a long road that we have to go very quickly, " said Anatoly Serdyukov, Industrial Director of the Rostec aviation cluster.
The state corporation reported that the engine consists of almost 12% of parts made using 3D printing.
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 its modifications on the Ansat-U, VRT-500 helicopters and foreign helicopters of the same class of payload capacity. The type certificate for the VK-650V engine is planned to be received in 2023.
