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Ka-62 "Kasatka"

The development of the Ka-62, which made its maiden flight in April 2016, began in 1992. It was designed as a civilian model of the Ka-60 multipurpose military transport helicopter. The difference between the models is only that on the Ka-62 the main rotor has one blade more than its predecessor. Kamov’s bureau began developing the new Ka-62 helicopter in 1990. This model was designed as a civilian version of the Kasatka multi-purpose military transport helicopter, while maintaining the basic design features of its predecessor.

The 6-ton Ka-62 is designed for cargo transportation, medevac and search and rescue operations, and can also be used in the oil and gas sector as well as for corporate purposes. The helicopter is capable of transporting up to 15 people. The Ka-62 is built with a single-rotor design and features a multi-blade anti-torque rotor in its vertical tail fin. It has a five-blade main rotor, enclosed tail rotor, secondary hydraulics circuit, heavy-duty wheeled landing gear, strengthened fuselage and mounting attachments for major components, as well as shock-absorbent seats for passengers and crew.

Ka-62 is developed on the basis of Ka-60 army helicopter and is intended for carrying passengers and cargo in the transport cabin, and transportation of bulky cargo on external sling. Ka-62 helicopter has single-rotor scheme with multi-blade tail rotor in the tail ring. The rotor blades and 60% of the airframe weight are made of polymeric composite materials. The airframe features perfect aerodynamic outlines, large transport-passenger cabin and retractable three-leg landing gear. The civil derivative of the helicopter inherited from the basic army version its high cruise speed, fuel efficiency and transport capacity as well as large door openings of the transport cabin on both fuselage sides.

The helicopter can be used for comfortable passenger transportation, for internal and external cargo transportation, it can perform first aid medical operations, search-and-rescue operation, water boarders and economic zone boarders patrol, for servicing coastal gas and oil lines. The Ka-62 helicopter is designed with account to the international flight safety requirements. OEI flight and landing are ensured. The safety of the pilot and passengers during rough landing is guaranteed by a set of measures, including the energy-absorbing and energy-attenuating design of the landing gear and seats. The tail rotor in the tail ring is protected against casual damages. The helicopter is equipped with efficient anti-icing and fire-fighting systems.

The Ka-62 is equipped with standard avionics suite of a basic transport version for VFR conditions, or a suite for IFR flying in any weather conditions, using the satellite navigational equipment. The export version of the helicopter is supplied with the engines and avionics of western companies at customer's option.

In late April 2008, the Arsenyev Progress plant announced its plans to build the first production Kamov Ka-62 medium utility helicopter during the first quarter of 2009. The enterprise intends to start pilot production in 2012, reaching an annual build rate of 30-40 helicopters by 2014. The Ka-62 is expected to obtain Russian type certification in 2011.

Progress became the third potential production site identified for the Ka-62. Originally, the Ka-60 and Ka-62 were planned to enter production at the Ulan-Ude Aircraft Plant (U-UAZ). After Kamov became part of the MiG Corporation, the decision was made to launch series production of the type at MiG's Lukhovitsy plant, which started building two Ka-60 fuselages in 2002. Subsequently, U-UAZ was again chosen as the production site for the Kasatka: in early 2006 Denis Manturov, then general director of the Oboronprom state-owned investment fund, said that $60 million of a total $150 million had already been invested in the production launch at Ulan-Ude. At that time, U-UAZ was planning to build the first production Ka-62 in 2008 or 2009, and achieve an annual production rate of 30 to 40 by 2010. Now, it appears, the plans had been revised once again.

On April 27, 2011 Russian Helicopters, JSC and French Turbomeca (Safran group), signed contracts for the supply of at least 308 Turbomeca Ardiden 3G turbo shaft engines to be installed on the updated Ka-62 helicopter. This announcement followed the ‘protocol of intentions’ contract signed on 21 February 2010, outlining the development and delivery of the Safran engines for the Russian-built Ka-62 helicopter.

The state-of-the-art Ardiden 3 line engines are designed for 6 to 8 tonnes helicopters which perform a variety of functions and can fully respond to market requirements in this growing niche. The modular design and dual channel FADEC, make the Ardiden 3 highly reliable and easy to use, with the benefit of an exceptionally low fuel consumption. The Ka-62 are to be fitted with a specific variant of the Ardiden 3 family, the Ardiden 3G engine.

The first model of the Ka-62 was shown at the international air show MAKS-1995. But, unfortunately, further development of this model was stopped due to insufficient financing of the project. Over the next fifteen years, loud statements have repeatedly been made to resume the development and production of the promising Ka-62 helicopter. But only in 2012, at the HeliRussia exhibition, a full-size and now already updated helicopter layout was again presented.

On April 28, 2016 the first prototype (OP-1) of the medium multirole Ka-62 helicopter took off at Russian Helicopters’ Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company (part of State Corporation Rostec). The lift in a hover mode was part of the factory flight testing and was completed successfully. The OP-1 Ka-62 was launched to evaluate its overall performance and to test its main power supply systems and avionics. The helicopter was operated by test pilots from the Kamov Design Bureau, which is the main developer of the Ka-62. Previously, the rotorcraft successfully passed a series of tests in a ground-based racing mode.

In May 2017, the Ka-62 made its first full-fledged flight at the flight test station of the same Arsenyevsky plant. The helicopter flight test program provided for normal flight in a circle with a total duration of up to 15 minutes. In February 2018, three copies of the Ka-62 helicopter were ready, and the third helicopter model was demonstrated at the MAKS-2019 international air show, including as part of the flight program.

With the support of the Industry Development Fund, in the spring of 2019, the construction of the first batch of helicopters began. Sales of this batch were planned for 2020, immediately after receiving the certificate. Along with the certification tests, the Ka-62 was preparing for its mass production.

The Ka-62 design, to the detriment of domestic manufacturers, used an unjustifiably large number of components and assemblies made abroad. At the same time, the layout and external layout of the new helicopter of the Kamov design bureau remained unchanged.

In the future, the Ka-62 medium multipurpose helicopter can be used in the interests of the RF Ministry of Defense and get a military modification. This was announced 22 July 2021 in an interview with TASS by the First Deputy Managing Director - Technical Director of the Arsenyev Aviation Company "Progress" them. NI Sazykina (part of the Russian Helicopters holding of Rostec) Andrey Semenov. "The strategy of the Russian Helicopters holding provides for joint work with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to resolve the issue of import substitution of components of the Ka-62 helicopter. Together we are discussing the missions that it should perform. Therefore, in the future, it can be used in the interests of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation," said the interlocutor of the agency.