MOSCOW. Nov 25 (Interfax-AVN) - Two first KA-226 helicopters will be delivered to the Russian Emergencies Ministry later this year.
The helicopters are to pass field trials at facilities of a state-owned aviation enterprise, Kamov technical director Viktor Prosvetov told Interfax-Military News Agency Monday.
The two first helicopters of the five KA-226s to be delivered to the ministry are intended for medical and S&R operations, he also said.
According to Kamov experts, the other three helicopters for the ministry can be delivered in 2003 granted their production is duly paid off.
The KA-226 is taking certification trials. According to Prosvetov, the certification is to be completed in the first quarter 2003.
Experts estimate that the contract for five serial KA-226s for the Emergencies Ministry RUB87m (USD2.73m). The KA-226 program has been launched according to a trilateral general agreement singed by Kamov, the Emergencies Ministry, and the Moscow city government in early 1999. All in all, the KA-226 R&D program is worth about USD20m.
The KA-226 light helicopter is intended for transportation of up to nine passengers. It is powered with two 250-C20R/2(SR) engines, 450 hp each. It has a take-off weight of 3,400 kilograms. The maximum payload is up to 1,400 kg in the transport cabin and up to 1,500 kg of suspended load. The maximum speed is 205 kmph, cruise speed 194 kmph and operational range up to 600 km. The aircraft can spend more than four hours and a half in the air, and almost seven hours with additional fuel tanks.