Contracts for the launch of the Franco-Russian Euromil Mi-38 medium utility helicopter could be signed in the first quarter of this year, if funding is forthcoming from the Russian Government.
Payment for the $500 million project is divided equally between Russia and a group of risk-sharing partners, including Eurocopter, Sextant Avionique and Pratt & Whitney Canada, which makes the PW127T turboshaft destined for the Mi-38.
Eurocopter has paid for initial development of the Mi-38 and manufacture of interior components. Although the new Russian Government of prime minister Yevgeny Primakov is sympathetic to the needs of the military industrial complex and has promised to revive the manufacturing industry, it remains desperately short of cash, leaving a quick launch of the programme problematical.
Euromil, which consists of the Russian Mil helicopter design bureau, the Kazan helicopter production plant and Eurocopter, took a joint board decision in December last year to launch the project, says Euromil general director and Mil chief engineer Vladimir Yablokov.
Under the proposed first contract, a prototype will be built by Kazan in 2000. A second contract will be signed later this year by the partners with P&WC to supply the demonstrator's engines.
Initial production Mi-38s will use the P&WC engine, but the Russian TVA-3000 turboshaft will power those helicopters sold to CIS customers, although the engine is still in development.
The Mi-38 is to replace large numbers of ageing Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters in the CIS, as well as offering a cheaper alternative to Western medium lift types such as the EH Industries EH101 and Sikorsky S-92. The Mi-38 will carry up to 30 passengers, or 5t of cargo, to an estimated range of 300km (160nm) and will be cleared for single pilot operation in the cargo role.
Source: Flight International
