Russian-French SaM146 Engine for Be-200 Amphibious aircraft

United Engine Corporation of Russia plans to to re-equip the Beriev Be-200 amphibious aircraft with the Russian-French SaM146 engine unit.

The modernization will make it possible to introduce the aircraft on the European and American markets, and also to begin the validation of the aircraft in the transport and passenger configurations.

The re-equipment project provides for modernization of SaM146 engine, including improvement of the software for the digital automatic control system. The next stage is the integration of the engine into the Be-200 aircraft and further certification of the re-equipped version.

The key advantages of the SaM146 engine unit are its simple and reliable construction, competitive price and life cycle cost. The SaM146 engine unit has also passed international certification and complied with prospective ICAO requirements.

“The implementation of this project will essentially make it possible to create a new aircraft based on the legendary Be-200, which is known to the world as a fire-fighting amphibious aircraft. The new engine opens up the possibility of the aircraft undergoing the certification and validation procedures necessary to enter the world market,” said industrial director of the aviation cluster at State Corporation Rostec Anatoly Serdyukov.

The SaM146 is an integrated engine unit, including a turbofan engine and a nacelle with a reversing device. The SaM146 is produced by UEC-Saturn in an equal partnership with Safran Aircraft Engines to equip Sukhoi Superjet 100 passenger planes. PowerJet (a joint venture of Safran Aircraft Engines and UEC-Saturn) is supplying the SaM146 and providing after-sales servicing.

The Be-200 can take off both from land or water. The main areas of its application are firefighting, search and rescue operations, protection of water surfaces, environmental missions, and passengers and cargo transportation.

The presentation took place at the ongoing Hydroaviasalon-2018 exhibition in the Russian city of Gelendzhik.