KAZAN, Tatarstan. Nov 2 (Interfax-AVN) - A Turkish delegation visited the Kazan helicopter plant in the framework of the joint session of the Russian-Turkish Business Committee being held here, a spokesman for the Rosoboronexport Federal State Unitary Enterprise told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
The co-chairman of the Russian-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Co-operation highly appreciated the potential of the Kazan helicopter plant.
The co-chairman said Rosoboronexport was most likely to win the tender for upgrading of 19 MI-17-1-V Hip transport and landing helicopters procured by the Chief Command of the Turkish Interior Ministry Gendarmery in 1995-1997. The helicopters that have reached the end of their service life now need overhaul and upgrade.
In addition to overhauling the MI-17-V-1s the helicopter project is likely to include the aircraft's upgrade, maintenance service, as well as training pilots and ground personnel for proper employment of the helicopters.
The quality overhaul of MI-17-V-1-type helicopters can only be performed by the aircraft's producer and designer, these being the Kazan helicopter plant and the Moscow-based Mil helicopter plant.
The upgrade program is to increase the helicopters' transportation and landing capabilities, as well as to insure 24-hour use of precise navigation equipment; it is also to improve the aircraft's flight and maintenance characteristics.
The service life of the VR-4 main reduction gear can be resumed to a full extent. The upgrade program provides for supplanting the TV3117VM engine with the new VK-2500 engine. This will increase the helicopter's take-off weight by 2 tons, maximum flight speed by 30 kmph and climbing speed by 4.3 meters per second.
The Safir auxiliary powerplant to be fitted on the aircraft will enhance the altitude cruise engines are started at from 4,000 meters to 6,000 meters.
The upgrade program can also include fitting the helicopters with additional in-board and external fuel tanks to increase their cruising range up to 1,600 kilometers and enhancing the efficiency of loading and unloading operations.