MOSCOW. Jan 6 (Interfax-AVN) - The Progress design bureau and the Motor Sich JSO, both based in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, have signed an agreement on joint production of AI-450 aircraft engines with Moscow's Salyut machine-building research and production enterprise, a competent source in the Russian defense industry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"The agreement regulates relations in arranging mass production of AI-450 aircraft engines between the Russian and Ukrainian enterprises. In particular, it provides for basing the engine's mass production on enhanced cooperation supplies of spare parts and components," the source said.
He recalled that the AI-450 developing 600 to 700hp can power such light helicopters as KA-226 Hoodlum and Ansat, as well as upgraded MI-2 Hoplite helicopters. In addition, the engine's variety for the YAK-152 trainer plane is being developed.
According to the source, the engine's final assembly will be handled by Motor Sich and Salyut.
In addition, the agreement grants each party the right and possibility to produce the engine autonomously in an emergency period. "For this purpose, each party will have a full set of technical and design documents for producing the engine entirely within one country," the source said.
According to him, Salyut's promising developments design bureau will take part in operational development of some of the engine's components and in the creation of new modifications.
"Bench tests of the new aircraft engine are underway. Flight tests of the AI-450 are likely to be performed on the KA-226 helicopter," the source said. Progress has produced four to five AI-450 prototypes, he added.
Performance of the AI-450 is unique as far as the engine's rotor rotational speed is concerned. It is as high as 52,000 RPM, while analogs only have a speed of less than 20,000 RPM. Motor Sich bought a unique balancing tool from Germany to produce the rotor.