MOSCOW, May 21 (AVN) - Tests of VK-2500 engines for the MI-24 Hind helicopter will resume in summer this year, Vitaly Shcherbina, constructor general of the Moscow-based Mil helicopter plant, told the Military News Agency on Monday.
Originally the tests started in summer 2000 but were postponed due to lack of fuel automatics needed for operation on special modes. The equipment is planned to be delivered to the plant in two months.
The engines will be mounted on all modernised helicopters of the MI-24 series as well as on MI-28 Havoc helicopters. Their take-off power is some 2,400hp while the emergency mode requires up to 2,700hp.
Installation of the new engines will help increase the helicopters' static ceiling by 1,000m and cargo capacity by 1t. The helicopters will be able to accomplish combat missions with the complete set of armament even when the surrounding temperature is 40 degrees above Celsius, Shcherbina said.