ZHUKOVSKY. Aug 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The Kamov Holding Company and the Rolls Royce Corporation have signed a contract on delivering another 50 RR250-C20R engines to be mounted on Ka-226 utility helicopters at the MAKS 2005 international air show being held in Zhukovsky outside Moscow.
"The two companies enjoy long-term cooperation. Last December they signed a contract on delivering 24 Rolls Royce engines for Ka-226 helicopters, with the delivery already underway. The new contract envisions a delivery of another 50 engines for Russian helicopters," Kamov Holding Company Director General Valery Lukin told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
The delivery of the new batch will start in 2006. The value of the contract exceeds $15 million.
Lukin pointed out that Rolls Royce's support in certifying the Ka-226, powered by RR250-C20R, in the U.S. market was very important for the Kamov Holding Company. The Ka-226 program is of strategic importance to both companies, he underlined.
Commenting on the contract, Scott Crislip, head of the Rolls Royce division for helicopter and gas turbine engines, noted that the contract reflected the long-term nature of cooperation between Rolls Royce and the Kamov Holding Company, operating as part of the Kamov group of companies. He also said that the companies had been cooperating for about a decade and that the success of the Ka-226, powered by RR250-C20R, was the basis for future joint projects.
He added that the program embraced both helicopters operating in Russia, and those exported.
The Ka-226 is a light multi-role coaxial helicopter. It has a flying chassis design incorporating the most up-to-date technologies. The helicopter is powered by gas-turbine engines and fitted with new-generation navigation and piloting equipment. Composite materials are used in the fuselage and blades. The Ka-226 meets international requirements concerning reliability, service life and flight safety. It is certified in accordance with AP-29 flight readiness standards, which are harmonized with FAR-29.
The Ka-226, powered by two 450hp engines, has a modular design. It allows it to be converted into the following modifications: passenger, transport, search and rescue, medevac, patrol, and fire-fighting.