"Will push out Western counterparts": what qualities does the newest Russian aircraft engine VK-650V have?

Deputy Chief Designer of JSC UEC-Klimov (St. Petersburg) Karen Malev, in an interview with RT, spoke about the prospects of the domestic aircraft engine VK-650V.

“In December 2020, a demonstrator engine is to be manufactured, then testing will begin.

Certification (VK-650V -

) is planned for 2023.

In 2024, we hope, the engine will go into trial operation and serial production, "Malev said on the sidelines of the HeliRussia-2020 exhibition held in Moscow.

To date, UEC-Klimov engineers have completed work on the design documentation for the demonstrator engine and its elements, including automatic control systems.

It is expected that the take-off power of the product should be 650 liters.

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At the same time, in various modes, the St. Petersburg unit will be able to produce from 400 to 750 liters.

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As Malev explained, in the future, based on the VK-650V gas generator, it is planned to develop a line of domestic power plants with a takeoff power of 500 to 700 liters.

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The new engines will be adapted to power small helicopters, light aircraft and various types of drones.

Malev said that in addition to the Klimovites, other enterprises included in the United Engine Corporation, as well as several third-party co-contractors, are taking part in the creation of VK-650V.

The assembly of the units will be deployed at the facilities of UEC-Klimov.

The materials of the St. Petersburg enterprise say that the tests of the VK-650V will start in January 2021.

After the completion of development work, JSC "UEC-Klimov" will be able to produce about 160 new engines annually, which is about 30% of the needs of the domestic Russian market.

• Deputy Chief Designer of JSC "UEC-Klimov" Karen Malev

• © Press Service of the UEC "Klimov"

Within the framework of import substitution

According to Malev, in the very near future VK-650V will be installed on the coaxial Ka-226T and VRT500 multipurpose helicopters, as well as on the Ansat-U training vehicles operated by the RF Ministry of Defense.

Currently, these samples of aircraft are equipped with imported power units.

For example, vehicles of the Ansat family fly on North American installations Pratt & Whitney PW207K.

The VRT500, which is being worked on by the specialists of the company "VR-Technologies" (part of the holding "Russian Helicopters"), has not yet taken off.

In the process of creation, the choice of engineers fell on the products of Pratt & Whitney Canada (the Canadian division of the American Pratt & Whitney) - for the first years the car will fly on a PW207V unit with a capacity of up to 700 hp.

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It was assumed that the installation of overseas engines would simplify overseas certification of the VRT500.

According to experts, the Ka-226T is experiencing the greatest need for remotorization due to the potential threat of sanctions.

It is currently powered by two Arrius 2G1 gas turbine engines from the French company Safran.

Analysts expect this helicopter to be widely used in government departments of the Russian Federation.

Malev does not hide the fact that the development of the VK-650V is dictated primarily by considerations of import substitution against the backdrop of sanctions risks not leaving the agenda.

As the deputy chief designer of UEC-Klimov emphasized, in terms of all key characteristics the new engine will correspond to the best world standards, and in terms of weight it will be even slightly lighter than foreign analogues.

“Of course, Ansat, Ka-226T and VRT500 need domestic engines.

This remotorization is an organic part of the import substitution process.

Speaking specifically about the Ka-226T, the VK-650V will be equivalent in power to the French installation, fuel consumption and other qualities will be about the same.

However, we undertook to make a lighter and more competitive engine in terms of price, ”Malev explained.

"Get optimal performance"

At present, JSC "UEC-Klimov" and other enterprises of the United Engine Corporation are conducting technological preparation for production and manufacturing of assemblies of the VK-650V demonstrator unit.

Also, Russian engineers are preparing stands to start testing a prototype.

As indicated in the materials of "UEC-Klimov", the engine will be implemented with a single-stage centrifugal compressor, compressor turbine and free turbine.

This approach will allow "to obtain the optimal power density characteristics."

It is planned to widely use additive technologies in the manufacture of VK-650V elements (production of an object from a 3D model).

With their help, up to 20% of parts have already been created, including components for the stator of the demonstrator motor.

"Klimovtsy" complain about the existing legislative restrictions in the Russian Federation in the field of the use of additive technologies, but expect that legal conflicts will eventually be resolved.

In an interview with RT, Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation, Major General Vladimir Popov, expressed confidence that the VK-650V will find wide application in the Russian Federation and, possibly, will be exported.

The expert considers the issue of remotorization of the entire Ansat helicopter fleet and the Ka-226 family to be extremely urgent.

“In the current situation, Russia, of course, should not depend on the supply of Western units.

The same Ansat is a good machine that is used for training purposes, and for search and rescue operations, and for medical purposes.

We cannot allow Ansat to be left without an engine due to the next aggravation of political contradictions, ”Popov stressed.

According to the expert, the development of the VK-650V may become a "technological breakthrough" in the Russian aircraft engine building.

The interlocutor of RT drew attention to the fact that the Klimovsky power unit will meet the best international standards, while maintaining such traditional qualities of the domestic school as a high margin of safety and reliability in extreme climatic conditions. 

A similar point of view is shared by military expert Yuri Knutov.

In a commentary on RT, the analyst noted that the Russian industry is confidently building up competencies in aircraft engine building, relying on the accumulated scientific and technological groundwork and foreign experience.

According to the expert, Western sanctions served as an important incentive for the development of engine building in the Russian Federation.

“As a rule, engines abroad are developed and produced by consortia from several developed countries.

Russia is in a situation where it is pulling the most complex projects alone, and very successfully.

Therefore, I think that the "Klimovtsy" will meet the target dates and the VK-650V will eventually oust their Western counterparts from our civilian market, and will also hedge our military, "Knutov summed up.