Growing own competence

Russian aero engine designers have reached an important milestone in launching domestic production of helicopter powerplants, which have been enjoying steadily growing demand over the past several years. St Petersburg-based Klimov plant, a subsidiary of United Engine Corporation (UEC), commenced tests in December 2012 on the first VK-2500 turboshaft engine assembled from all-Russian components. Klimov, which originally designed the VK-2500, would previously assemble these engines from parts supplied by the Ukrainian manufacturer Motor Sich, currently the largest helicopter engine house in the former Soviet Union. The 2,400-hp VK-2500 powers the new Mil Mi-28 and Ka-52 gunships and is also installed on the latest modifications of the globally popular Mil Mi-8/17 transport helicopter family.

In 2008 the Russian government decided to organize full-cycle helicopter engine production in St Petersburg. Klimovʼs plan is to assemble 50 VK-2500s from Russian components in 2013 and to ramp up annual production of these engines to 500 units by the year 2015. State-controlled Vnesheconombank in 2011 granted Klimov a 4.95-billion-ruble loan (equivalent to $165 million) for these purposes. "Organizing VK-2500 series production as part of the national imports substitution program contributes to the Russian helicopter industry’s independence from foreign suppliers of engines and engine components," says UEC general director Vladislav Masalov.