MOSCOW. March 15 (Interfax-AVN) - State tests of the Mil Mi-8MTV-5-1 helicopter powered with the ТV3-117VMA-SBM1V engine will end in late April, Anatoly Sitnov, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vladimir Klimov-Motor Sich Engines Russian-Ukrainian joint venture, told Interfax-AVN.
"The tests conducted at the Torzhok Piloting Center have been halfway completed," he said.
The completion of the state tests may be acknowledged in June-July 2013, he added.
"Russia made the 70% of the ТV3-117VMA-SBM1V engine. It contributed R&D, materials, testing methods and assembly works," he said.
The engine may be installed in Mil Mi-8, Mi-171/172, Mi-24, Mi-35M and Mi-28N and Kamov Ka-52, Ka-27/28 and Ka-32.
It can work in emergency mode for an hour, Sitnov said. "This safety factor is crucial for Russia: a helicopter can fly for about 200 kilometers with only one working engine," he said.
The 218th aircraft repair plant in Gatchina may start to assemble the ТV3-117VMA-SBM1V engine this year, Sitnov said.