Vladimir Karnozov

Moscow and Tehran are inching closer to a major deal on rotorcraft that would cover license production, co-development and maintenance. Discussions are centered on a light helicopter: either the Kamov Ka-226T or the Kazan Helicopters Ansat. Meantime, Iran continues to operate more than 50 Mil Mi-17s and is developing its own designs based on old Bell models.

 


An MoU on the lightweight helicopter was signed at HeliRussia 2017 in May and a detailing agreement was signed at MAKS 2017 last month. The deputy head of Iran’s Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) Abolfazl Kiyani Bakhtiyari told reporters at MAKS 2017, "IDRO has signed a contract with the Russian Helicopters company to produce civilian rotorcraft." Implementation of the deal shall involve setting up a joint venture. Emphasizing the “civilian” nature of the program is necessary to move it outside of the United Nations sanctions regime. Sanctions will be in place for &nbsp;another three years despite the nuclear weapons limitation deal the world's six leading nations signed with Iran in 2015.

 


The IDRO is one of a number of Iranian organizations to be involved in the collaboration with Russia on rotorcraft. Apparently, Iran is seeking Russian assistance in getting its helicopter manufacturing up and running, and to provide expertise to help local designs attain a competitive level. Iranian manufacturers need many components, notably engines and avionics, which are in short supply today. Meantime, the Iranian inventory, dominated by western designs acquired before the Islamic Revolution in 1979, badly needs renovation.

 


The plan has been confirmed by Bani Tarafi, chairman of Iran’s Aviation Industry Organization (AIO). "We are working with the Russians on joint development and production of helicopters; we have not yet started the phase of implementation for the joint designing, but the grounds have been paved.” He added that contracts are already in place on maintenance and overhaul of Russian-made helicopters in Iran.

 


At HeliRussia 2017, Russian Helicopters and Iran Helicopter Support &amp; Renewal Company (IHSRC) signed a memo that determines cooperation of the two sides on “assembly of Ka-226T lightweight helicopter in [Iran].” The company stated, “Production of the Ka-226T in Iran is intended to completely meet the demand of Iran in lightweight helicopters.” Among other items, this memo sets a roadmap for how to make IHSRC able to handle the assembly work and comply with requirements of international organizations for helicopter manufacturers.

 


Russian Helicopters CEO Andrey Boginsky commented: “This memo is a serious step forward that brings us closer to practical materialization of the joint program on license production of a lightweight helicopter at the foreign partner’s manufacturing site. There is a huge demand in Iran for this kind of product. We know a large number of potential operators of such hardware, which makes us hope for successful implementation of the respective project and contract signing in the near future.”

 


Even though the Ka-226T is specifically mentioned in the memo with IHSRC, Iran has yet to make it clear which model it prefers. While the Ka-226T manufacturing line is loaded to capacity with the massive Indian contract (200 firm orders plus options), the Ansat needs more orders to make the production line run smoothly. At MAKS 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of the Iranian delegations were shown the Ansat-RT with a new glass cockpit that is rumored to be intended as a specimen for license production at Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Company (HESA). The offer is sweetened by the promise of a Russian engine, either the Klimov VK800 or Techodinamika TD700, with the latter making its first public appearance at MAKS 2017.

 


The Ka-226T features a coaxial rotor layout, a detachable cabin module and Turbomeca Arius 2G engines, and is optimized for hot-and-high operations. Higher speeds and more spacious cabin seating for up to 10 people instead of six are the main advantages of the Ansat with a classic layout and Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PW207K engines.

 


Meantime, Iran continues developing its own designs based on old Bell models. With gross weight of 6,614 pounds, the Saba 248, unveiled in March, has advertised performance close to that of the aforementioned Russian designs. Army Airborne Commander Gen. Yousef Qorbani said the Saba 248 is being adapted to military use and “will soon become ready for combat missions.” He stressed the need for self-reliance in rotorcraft. His Defense Minister Gen. Hossein Dehqan described the Saba 248 as a twin-engine multipurpose helicopter able to carry eight people. Both insisted that Iran possesses “state-of-the-art technology” in that field, but failed to explain why the local industry has had little success with production of these and other rotorcraft in worthwhile numbers.

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