Ka-92

Mil and Kamov will merge to form the National Helicopter Center (NHC). This move came after the Russian Defense Ministry’s selection of Mil’s proposal over that of Kamov in the competition for a future rotorcraft that would cruise at some 400km/h (216 knots) and accelerate to a top speed of up to 500 km/h. The two bureaux evaluated 10 different concepts. The ministry made its decision in early 2018 after an evaluation of the Mi-X1 and Ka-92 proposals and results of the flight test campaign with the Mi-24PSV flying laboratory, during which the latter accelerated to 405 km/h. Under 2019 plans, a technology demonstrator was to commence flying in 2019-2020 to enable the high-speed combat helicopter project to lift off some time in 2025. In the future, Russian Helicopters may adopt the “VR” designation for all new rotorcraft, following the example of the VR500 lightweight helicopter already under development.

Pusher propellers would be the level-flight propulsion configuration of choice for Russian helicopter manufacturers Mil and Kamov for a new breed of high-speed rotorcraft to fly in the 2015 timeframe. In 2008 both Russian helicopter specialists revealed high-speed helicopter concepts competing for the Rb15 billion ($635 million) government allocation for development of new rotorcraft technologies. Kamov has two concepts - the Ka-90 and Ka-92. Mil is challenging with the Mi-X1 and unpiloted MRVK. A single superior concept is expected to be selected to serve as the base for the creation of production models.

"The Ka-92 high-speed helicopter for long ranges is another vehicle on which we are going to assess various innovative design solutions," says Mikheyev. Although more recent, the Ka-92 is less radical, he says, "essentially a high-speed helicopter". Kamov is developing the vehicle in the hope that it will proceed to production, filling a market niche. "For exploration of Russia's northern regions, including oil fields, we need an effective transport system - one that would employ helicopters with higher speed and range," says Mikheyev. He points out that today's helicopters are "naturally" limited to a cruise speed of 162kt and a range of 700-800km.

But in some cases, a range of 1,200-1,400km is required, for instance when a helipad at destination temporarily closes down, perhaps because of weather conditions, forcing the crew to return to base without refuelling. Another distinct market exists in remote territories with undeveloped aerodromes. Such areas are served by helicopters that maintain regular passenger and cargo services with flights lasting up to 3h. The Ka-92 would be able to cut flight time substantially, making a return flight possible with no special infrastructure in place at the destination. With a cabin for 30 passengers, the Ka-92 will have a range of 1,400km at 227-243kt cruising speed. Take-off weight will be about 15,000kg. It will have two Klimov VK2500 engines, each generating 2,400hp at take-off and 2,700hp in emergency mode, or the more advanced VK3000 (TV7-117V), developing 2,800hp and 3,750hp, respectively. The engines will drive the co-axial main rotor - the firm's speciality - and counter-rotating coaxial pusher propellers in the rear fuselage. The propellers will give the Ka-92 a speed boost in level flight and provide torque balancing.

Firm " Kamov " starts development of essentially new passenger helicopter Ka-92. Its general designer Sergey Mikheyev has informed On it on AirShow "MAKS-2007 ". It is planned, that the new helicopter can deliver 30 passengers to distance up to 700 kilometers and return on air station without refuelling fuel. According to the designer, it will be essentially new machine with much higher aerodynamic qualities and the small specific charge of fuel.

During the 2009 HeliRussia exhibition Russia unveiled a slew of high-speed helicopter designs built around the Kamov Ka-92 medium-class helicopter capable of cruising at 450 km/h and flying a distance of up to 1,500 km. The 30-seat coaxial passenger helicopter with a takeoff weight of 16 tons was designed to land on just about any level surface which made it ideal for emergency situations and for ferrying shift crews to faraway oil rigs and construction sites in the Far North and even the Arctic.

Russian Helicopters director for innovation Andrei Shibitov said that the first- Ka-92 would fly in 2018, while the designers said that with adequate financing they would be able to do this in five years. A life-sized Ka-92 was never built. What they build, however, was a flying lab dubbed as the Prospective High-Speed Rorocraft demonstrator, which was unveiled during the 2015 MAKS airshow.