Russia Re-Proposes Ka-226T Helicopter to India with New Homegrown VK-650V Engine, Offering Significant Manufacturing in India

In a move aimed at strengthening defence ties and promoting indigenous manufacturing, Russia has re-proposed the Ka-226T helicopter to India. This renewed offer features a significant change: the inclusion of Russia's domestically developed VK-650V engine, replacing the previously planned French Turbomeca Arrius 2G1. This strategic shift addresses earlier concerns regarding production localization and engine supply chain security.

The VK-650V engine represents a major milestone for Russia, being its first helicopter engine in the 650-750 horsepower class. Designed specifically for helicopters with a takeoff weight of up to 4 tons, this engine is intended to replace foreign-made engines in both the Ansat and Ka-226T helicopters. This move not only boosts Russia's self-reliance in helicopter technology but also enhances the operational flexibility of these aircraft.

The lightweight VK-650V engine is expected to provide the Ka-226T with performance capabilities comparable to, or even exceeding, those offered by the French engine. This ensures the helicopter's suitability for a wide array of missions, including transportation, medical evacuation, and training.

This renewed proposal builds upon the initial agreement signed between India and Russia in December 2015, which outlined the joint production of 200 Ka-226T helicopters at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India.

The original contract stipulated that the first 40 helicopters would be built in Russia and assembled in India, while the remaining 160 would be fully manufactured and assembled in Tumkur, Karnataka, with a focus on maximizing local content.

This revised proposal further underscores the commitment to indigenous manufacturing, with potential adjustments to the production distribution between Russia and India.

Sources suggest that Rostec, the Russian state corporation for high-tech industrial development, is planning to showcase a model of the Ka-226T equipped with the VK-650V engine at Aero India 2025.

This exhibition will provide a valuable opportunity for India to assess the capabilities of this new configuration and its potential contribution to the country's defence capabilities.

 

[Somebody]

It’s a great and versatile product for the Army, one advantage is, it uses Safran engine.

 

[मित्र]

Another western (french) engine blockade. Hopefully this concludes soon

 

[sanket]

Why would the French block engine supply to Bharat (India) while they are not supplying to Russia? It's a win-win situation for all. This way they lose business and then beg for defence ties.

 

[Enforcer]

This is a very ugly helicopter but at the same time very practical design. Its the rikshaw of the skies.

 

[Anant]

It was Russian engines that were a non-starter for this deal years back, and the same holds true even today. Moreover, if the AL-31FP is anyone to go by, we won't get any ToT, and will be paying egregiously high costs for the engine.

 

[Mithu Roy]

Buy if they give 100 percent TOT for that engine, from material, forging, machining, and coatings. This is absolutely essential to enhance our engine building capability.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

I did not understand why India stopped this deal and still flying 50-year-old Chetak helicopters and many army men have been died due to crashes. Such irrational steps taken by our armed forces are beyond imagination. Another blunder was by not giving extra Rafael order and the biggest of them all is that without any proper planning India canceled the FGFA program with Russia. These illogical steps are hurting India right now.

 

[Deepak Hegde]

At least it will be better than ALH-Dhruv, which keep dropping out of the skies at regular intervals.

 

[Kira]

At least it will be better than ALH-Dhruv, which keep dropping out of the skies at regular intervals.

That is not at all certain, as the engine is unproven and the twin rotors mean that it will be more difficult to maintain, plus the obvious issues with spares supplies, especially with this helicopter being a daily workhorse for the services. I mean there may be good reason why twin rotor designs have not picked up steam anywhere, even in Russia itself.

I believe the services should just stick with the LUH now that it is very much ready for mass production, unlike back in 2015-16 when it was still on paper.

 

[P.K Senapati]

Ka226T helicopter was evaluated by India and it was found to go for make in India. The only problem was the engine. The previous Turbomeca engine is now replaced with Russian VK650 and now the option of indigenous licensed production of the engine gives engine autonomy.

 

[The_rED_dEVIL]

It was Russian engines that were a non-starter for this deal years back, and the same holds true even today. Moreover, if the AL-31FP is anyone to go by, we won't get any ToT, and will be paying egregiously high costs for the engine.

The deal should not go through. Else, economies of scale and logistical simplicities will not be achieved by HAL LUH. Moreover, there are no guarantees of Russian deliveries at the moment.

 

[Shanker]

At least it will be better than ALH-Dhruv, which keep dropping out of the skies at regular intervals.

Every new product goes through hiccups. Even the advanced F-35 series had a lot of problems when introduced. HAL has done a commendable job despite many constraints. Only fools will keep abusing our Defense Sector. 😳

 

[Shanker]

I did not understand why India stopped this deal and still flying 50-year-old Chetak helicopters and many army men have been died due to crashes. Such irrational steps taken by our armed forces are beyond imagination. Another blunder was by not giving extra Rafael order and the biggest of them all is that without any proper planning India canceled the FGFA program with Russia. These illogical steps are hurting India right now.

It's not India's fault. Only Russia delayed executing it for many reasons.

 

[Sandeep]

The deal collapsed because India wanted to use a French engine instead of a Russian engine which is what Russia wanted us to use. Unless this new Russian engine is as good as the French engine in its performance, reliability, longevity and Russia can increase the amount of technology they transfer to us and allow us to manufacture it locally then there’s no point in even offering the deal to us again.

Now the other problem is that with trump back in government he won’t like us making any expensive or significant military deal and purchase of Russian weapons and technology then we could face sanctions or he could increase the amount of tariffs they put on our exports to the USA.

 

[beencensured]

I did not understand why India stopped this deal and still flying 50-year-old Chetak helicopters and many army men have been died due to crashes. Such irrational steps taken by our armed forces are beyond imagination. Another blunder was by not giving extra Rafael order and the biggest of them all is that without any proper planning India canceled the FGFA program with Russia. These illogical steps are hurting India right now.

No LCH orders still waiting on much delayed and much more expensive Apaches that do not work in Himalaya.

 

[Somebody]

Another western (french) engine blockade. Hopefully this concludes soon

It uses the derivative engine of Turnomeca that we use in Dhruv-ALH.

 

[Somebody]

It was Russian engines that were a non-starter for this deal years back, and the same holds true even today. Moreover, if the AL-31FP is anyone to go by, we won't get any ToT, and will be paying egregiously high costs for the engine.

It never used a Russian engine, it is French and RR always.

 

[Surfer]

It was Russian engines that were a non-starter for this deal years back, and the same holds true even today. Moreover, if the AL-31FP is anyone to go by, we won't get any ToT, and will be paying egregiously high costs for the engine.

Russian engines non-starter, who has more jet and helicopter engines? It won't drive like your Tesla, but it helps win the war.

 

[Somebody]

This is a very ugly helicopter but at the same time very practical design. Its the rikshaw of the skies.

We are not taking them for a beauty competition, it is the most practical transport helicopter that could be used for multiple transports just by replacing the pods, there is no other helicopter like this.

 

[Dredd]

It was Russian engines that were a non-starter for this deal years back, and the same holds true even today. Moreover, if the AL-31FP is anyone to go by, we won't get any ToT, and will be paying egregiously high costs for the engine.

Engine wasn't the issue. The issue was the percentage of local indigenisation. Russians were offering approx 55% while India wanted approx 65% indigenous content. One reason for this was the French engine, which will now be resolved with the new Russian engine. However, reliability and efficiency still need to be verified.