The Russian Helicopters holding (part of the Rostec State Corporation) presents additional equipment options for the Ansat multipurpose helicopter at the HeliRussia-2020 Exhibition – new variants include an internal fuel tank and inflated ballonets.

aerobd.news : “The Ansat helicopter project is developing to meet the needs of our customers. We are actively responding to the requests of our partners, making our products more competitive and comfortable to use. By the end of the year, we are planning to transfer a prototype representing a new generation of Ansat for testing. In addition to a wide range of optional equipment, the helicopter will receive an upgraded fuel system with increased capacity, the latest avionics for instrument flight, and a lightweight fuselage structure which includes more composite materials”, said the Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky.

An emergency flotation system is designed to keep the helicopter afloat in the event of an emergency landing on water, with inflated ballonets that can provide buoyancy for 30 minutes. The systems consist of inflatable buoyancy chambers (ballonets), two life rafts, emergency life support package, including a radio beacon to signal the the landing site location to rescuers. Ansats equipped with the system will be capable of flights to oil companies’ facilities located at a considerable distance from the coast as well as participation in search and rescue operations above the water. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) certified the installation of the emergency floatation systems on Ansats in 2020.

An additional fuel tank is designed to increase the ferry range of the helicopter. This option will be in demand when making long-distance flights, e.g. when delivering a helicopter to its permanent base of operations. An additional 192-liter fuel tank increases Ansat’s flight range by 140-150 km, up to 650 km. Additionally, an Ansat modification with enlarged main fuel tanks will be available to customers in 2021. The capacity of the main fuel system will be increased by 20%, increasing flight range by 135 km. When the additional fuel tank is used in combination with the upgraded Ansat, the maximum flight range will exceed 750 km.

In the future, Ansat will also be equipped with a winch and external sling. This modification is currently tested in the Kazan Helicopters testing facility. The winch increases the efficiency of the helicopter in search and rescue operations and allows to carry out loading and unloading operations while hovering. The device provides lifting and deploying of people and cargo with a total weight of up to 272 kg.

The external sling is designed for transporting cargo with weight up to 1000 kg. The maximum take-off weight of Ansat with external sling will be increased to 3900 kg. The system comes with capability for cargo weight measurement and jettisoning.

Ansat is a light multipurpose twin-engine helicopter. Its serial production is deployed at Kazan Helicopter Plant. According to the helicopter certificate, its design allows quickly converting it into a cargo version or into a passenger rotorcraft that can lift up to eight people. In May 2015, the modification of the helicopter with a medical module was certified. Ansat is certified for use in the temperatures ranging between -45°С and +50°С, and in high mountains. In 2019, the Federal Air Transport Agency certified an increase in the airworthiness of Ansat’s fuselage to 16,000 flying hours.

JSC “Russian Helicopters”, a part of Rostec State Corporation, is a leading player in the global helicopter industry, the sole Russian designer and manufacturer of helicopters. The Holding Company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. We operate five helicopter assembly plants, two design bureaus, component production and maintenance enterprises, aircraft repair plants and one helicopter service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. The customers of the Holding Company are the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazpromavia, UTair Aviation company, large Russian and foreign companies.

State Corporation Rostec is one of the largest industrial companies in Russia. It unites more than 800 scientific and industrial organizations in 60 regions of the country. Its key areas of activity are transport engineering, electronics, medical technology, chemistry and innovative materials. Rostec holdings form three clusters: electronics, weapons and aviation. The corporation’s portfolio includes such well-known brands as AvtoVAZ, KAMAZ, Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, Uralvagonzavod and others. Rostec is active in the implementation of all 12 national projects. The company is a key provider of Smart City technology, it is engaged in the digitalization of public administration, industry and social sectors, and it is developing plans for the development of 5G wireless technologies, an Industrial Internet of Things, big data and blockchain systems. Rostec partners with leading world manufacturers such as Boeing, Airbus, Daimler, Pirelli and Renault. The corporation’s products are delivered to more than 100 countries worldwide. Almost a third of the company’s revenue comes from the export of high-tech products.