Ka-226T Helicopters for India to Fly in 2021

Prototype Ka-226T helicopters meant for India will fly in the first half of 2021, according to  Leonid Belykh, managing director of the Ulan-Ude aircraft plant (U-UAZ) of Russian Helicopters holding.

"Now we are focused on the manufacture of fuselages and machine assemblies for various tests, but in parallel we are working on the creation of prototypes of the Ka-226T helicopter, which we expect to fly into the air in the first half of 2021," said Belykh.

A complete set of design documentation, taking into account all the requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defense, will be transferred to the plant by the end of the year, Belykh added.

At the moment, U-UAZ has manufactured the first two fuselages of the Ka-226T light multi-purpose helicopter for India. By the end of 2020, U-UAZ will assemble a number of stands and assemblies of the Ka-226T helicopter for static, dynamic and resource tests.

in September, a slipway for the general assembly of the helicopter fuselage was manufactured and installed, in which already manufactured units are laid: the bottom of the cockpit, the middle and central fuselage compartments, tail booms and tail assembly.

In September 2020, a slipway for the general assembly of the helicopter fuselage was manufactured and installed, in which already manufactured units are laid: the bottom of the cockpit, the middle and central fuselage compartments, tail booms and tail assembly.

An intergovernmental agreement between Russia and India on cooperation in the field of helicopter construction was signed in 2015. However, the contract for 200 Ka-226T helicopters with a total estimated value of $1 billion has not yet been concluded.

In February 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov announced that the start of production of the Ka-226T jointly with India is scheduled for 2021.

According to the agreement signed in 2015, the Russian Helicopters holding organizes deliveries to India and the localization of production in this country of the Russian Ka-226T helicopter and its modifications in the amount of 200 units, of which at least 140 machines will be produced at the facilities of the joint venture in India.

The agreement also provides for the maintenance, operation, repair of helicopters and the provision of their technical support.

It is planned that the production of the Ka-226T for the Indian customer at the first stage will be carried out in Ulan-Ude, and then gradually transferred to the site of the Russian-Indian joint venture Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited in India. Currently, the Ka-226T is produced at the Kumertau Aviation Enterprise (KumAPP) in Bashkiria.

The light twin-engine Ka-226T with coaxial rotors has a maximum take-off weight of 3.6 tons. It is designed for aerial reconnaissance, target designation, patrolling, cargo transportation (up to 1500 kg), transportation and landing of reconnaissance and sabotage groups of up to 7 people.

Modules of various configurations can be installed on the Ka-226T, thanks to which it can be converted into a patrol, search and rescue, medical, transport-cargo, passenger or corporate helicopter.