Russo-Chinese Heavy-Lift Helicopter First Flight In 2020

Russia and China are finalizing an agreement to jointly manufacture a heavy-lift helicopter next year and will conduct its first flight around 2020.

Speaking at the third Chinese Helicopter Expo at Tianjin, Wu Ximing, chief helicopter designer at Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) was quoted by China Military Online, “"The project is progressing smoothly, and we are discussing with our Russian counterparts terms and clauses in the agreement. The negotiations should conclude before the end of this year and the development will start next year.”

“The heavy-lift helicopter will use Ukraine-made Lotarev D-136 turboshaft engine at the initial mass-production stage and the production will be based in China. Our existing turboshaft engines' maximum output power is about 1,000 kilowatts, not powerful enough to propel the heavy-lift helicopter. The Chinese engineers are developing a 5,000-kilowatt turboshaft engine that can be used by the aircraft in the future," he said.

Lin Zuoming, AVIC's chairman, said on Tuesday that he expects the helicopter to conduct its first flight around 2020.

After several years of negotiations, AVIC and Russian Helicopters signed a cooperation framework agreement on the project in Moscow in May.

"The helicopter will use China's world-class avionics systems and advanced materials, while Russia will be responsible for the aerodynamic design, transmission gear and de-icing equipment," Huang Chuanyue, deputy chief engineer at Avicopter, AVIC's helicopter branch said.

According to AVIC, the aircraft will have a maximum takeoff weight of 38.2 metric tons and a maximum cruising speed of 300 km/h. It will be capable of flying at altitudes up to 5,700 meters and have a range of 630 km.

Huang said it will be able to carry 10 tons of cargo, or more than 100 people inside the cabin, or 15 tons in an external sling.

"We expect this helicopter will corner about 25 percent of the international market for this type. China will need at least 200 heavy-lift helicopters within the coming 30 years, and the international market's demand will reach about 2,000 in that time,” he said.