Russia’s Rostec State Corporation recently conducted the first full-profile test flight of the Ansat helicopter equipped with the new Russian VK-650V turboshaft engines.
The Ansat was developed by Kazan Helicopters with 12.5% financial participation from the UAE’s Mubadala Investment Company and its sovereign wealth fund.
Earlier, on July 29, an Ansat prototype powered by the VK-650V performed its first hover flight. The engine was type-certified in February.
The VK-650V, developed by ODK-Klimov, is a Russian turboshaft engine designed for light helicopters such as the Ka-226T and Ansat. It delivers 650 hp (with emergency power up to 750 hp) and features a modular design with FADEC digital control.
The Ansat was originally powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207K engines. Western sanctions prohibiting the export of these engines prompted Russia to develop its own alternative power plant.
There is a possibility that eventual certification of the VK-650V on the Ka-226T could revive the stalled joint-manufacture project in India.
In 2015, India and Russia signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement to jointly manufacture at least 200 Ka-226T light utility helicopters.
Under the plan, 60 helicopters would be imported and 140 manufactured locally by the joint venture Indo-Russian Helicopters Limited (IRHL).
HAL holds 50.5% of the stock, Russian Helicopters 42.5%, and Rosoboronexport 7%. The project stalled in early 2022 for three main reasons: India’s Defence Procurement Board wanted to give HAL more time to complete development of its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) as an indigenous alternative.
At the time, the Ka-226T was powered by France’s Safran Arrius engine. Sanctions on Russia prevented further use of this engine as a power plant.
India required 70% indigenous content, but Russia could offer only 62%, largely because the engine was foreign-sourced. With the Ka-226T now powered by the Russian-developed VK-650V, Russia may be able to offer a localization level exceeding 70%.
The Ka-226T is a light, multipurpose helicopter featuring twin coaxial rotors. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 3.6 tons and a payload capacity of up to 1 ton.
A key feature of the Ka-226T is its modularity. The helicopter can be quickly reconfigured with a transport cabin that accommodates up to six passengers or outfitted with specialized equipment modules.
At the 2024 India-Russia summit, Indian PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin set a bilateral trade target of $100 billion by 2030.
Maxim Oreshkin, an aide to the Russian president, noted that the primary focus of discussions between Putin and Modi was to enhance key areas of collaboration between the two countries until 2030, such as aircraft manufacturing.
This has led military experts to speculate that the revival of outdated defense projects might help India meet its ambitious 2030 trade target of $100 billion while increasing defense production.
Military analyst and a keen watcher of the Russian military, Indian Air Force Veteran Vijainder K. Thakur (Retd) says the “Revival of the in-limbo project to manufacture Ka-226T light helicopters in India locally is perhaps the lowest hanging fruit for increased cooperation in aircraft construction.”
Now, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to India in December, the Kremlin recently confirmed, as ties between the countries grow closer, after the United States imposed punishing tariffs on New Delhi over its purchases of Russian oil.
This meeting follows a warm bilateral exchange between Putin and Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025, where both leaders reaffirmed their “special and privileged strategic partnership.”
Russia has historically supplied over 60% of India’s military hardware, including fighter jets, submarines, and missile systems.
Key discussions may focus on expediting delayed deliveries under existing agreements. For instance, the $5.4 billion S-400 air defense system deal from 2018 has seen three of five regiments delivered, but sanctions related to Russia’s Ukraine conflict have stalled the rest.
Talks could accelerate these and potentially expand to additional units or the advanced S-500 variant, enhancing India’s air defenses against regional threats.
Other projects that could be discussed include the upgrade of Su-30 MKI jets, collaboration on Su-57 stealth fighters, and the development of R-37M missile. Revival of Ka-226T choppers cannot be ruled out.
- By ET Desk
- With Inputs from Vijainder K Thakur
- Mail us at: editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
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