Ka-62 Helicopter's Import Substitution to Push Back Serial Production to 2025

Russia’s most-modern civilian helicopter, the Ka-62 will go back to the factory to work on an “import-substituted appearance,” which will push back its serial production to 2025.

“Today, the holding is working on the creation of an import-substituted appearance of the Ka-62. Serial production of the new version of the machine is planned to begin at the Far East enterprise of Russian Helicopters from 2025, a press release from Rostec Holding, the parent of Russian Helicopters’ said.

As part of import substitution, work will be carried out to replace systems and units with domestic counterparts. The replacement will be carried out taking into account the preservation of the achieved competitive flight performance of the helicopter,”  Denis Paltsev, General Director of AAC Progress was quoted in the release.

While not specifying what parts will be replaced, it must be remembered that the air frame and propeller blades are made over 50% made of polymeric composite materials, to give it a lower weight to cargo-carrying capacity. It engines too are the Ardiden 3G 1,776 HP powerplants made by SAFRAN of France.

Western sanctions have blocked access to composites and Russia had to work backwards to create a composite manufacturing base in the country. The state of supply of the French-made engines too is not known.

The Ka-62 multi-purpose civil helicopter  meets Russian and international airworthiness standards, reliability and safety standards for cargo and passenger transportation, a Russian Helicopters’ release said.

The new medium multirole Ka-62 helicopter meets Russian and international flight standards (Russia’s AP-29, Europe’s CS-29 and JAR-OPS3), offshore operational requirements, international standards for reliability, resource use, flight safety, comfort, usability, service life and repair.

The Ka-62 is fitted with two Ardiden 3G 1,776 h.p. engines made by SAFRAN HE. Their modular design and dual-channel FADEC system ensures high reliability, heightened ease of operation, and low fuel use. The helicopter is also equipped with a glass cockpit developed by the Russian company Transas.

The Ka-62 is built to a single-rotor design with a multi-blade anti-torque rotor ducted into the vertical tail fin. It has a five-bladed main rotor, enclosed tail rotor, secondary hydraulics circuit, heavy-duty wheeled landing gear, strengthened fuselage and mounting attachments for major components, as well as shock-absorbent seats for passengers and crew.