“MI” BRANDED«Military Industrial Courier», 23.11.2005
ARMED FORCES MASTER OPERATION OF NIGHT HELICOPTERS DEVELOPED BY MIL MOSCOW HELICOPTER PLANT
Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant is one of the oldest enterprises in the world engaged in development and production of rotorcraft. The plant have designed and produced more than a dozen of base helicopter types - almost all of them are serially produced. Nowadays Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant is one of the major members of the helicopter holding being an area where new Mi helicopters are designed, manufactured and tested. Andrey SHIBITOV, the General Director of “Mil” Moscow Helicopter Plant tells about current status of the enterprise.
PERSONAL FILE
Andrey SHIBITOV
He was born in Rostov-on-Don in 1961. He graduated from secondary school in 1978. From 1979 through 1981 he served in Armed Forces. In 1982-1988 he studied at the Kharkov Aviation Institute. From 1988 through 2000 he worked at the Rostov Helicopter Plant in the position of design engineer, leading designer, deputy chief designer, director of engineering company. From 2000 to 2004 he occupied the position of Deputy General Director of foreign economic activities at Rostvertol JSC. On 2 December 2004 he is voted General Director of “Mil” Moscow Helicopter Plant.
- Andrey Borisovich, what is the role and status of “Mil” Moscow Helicopter Plant in the helicopter holding structure?
- The holding has already been established de facto and de jure. Now the holding company-members are transferring their shares to “OPK”Oboronprom". This process is nearly completed. I would remind that this structure includes Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopter Plant, Stupino Machine Building Production Enterprise, “Vpered” Moscow Machine Building Plant and one additional associate member - Rostvertol. At the stage of holding establishment “Mil” Moscow Helicopter Plant played a role of coordinator and integrator. In other words we performed functions of developer and we were a parent company that coordinated technical issues of holding establishment. Now we still continue to fulfill the functions of coordinator. We will proceed to perform these functions until the newly established Council of the holding and Helicopter Programs Directorate come into full force. When these coordinating functions are delegated to the Council and Directorate, our plant will start to work in the way other holding members work and will be engaged in the development of helicopters and technical policy of holding together with another Design Bureau - Kamov Company that has recently entered our helicopter group.
- Have you already got any opinions of your military operators on new helicopters such as: Mi-28N and Mi-24PN?
It is early to speak about the Mi-28N operation experience, it is not yet supplied to the Army, it undergoes state tests. At the present time two Mi-28N helicopters pass through the program at the stage of preliminary conclusion. The pilots of Moscow helicopter plant and of the Ministry of Defence fly them. In other words, this helicopter is under the test of the Ministry of Defence. The Mi-24PN is already available in Armed Forces but not in formation units. They are operated in the Torzhok training center. Nowadays the methodics of their operation is being worked out. Actually it is not enough to develop and produce the helicopter, it is vital to learn to use its capabilities to advantage. The Mi-24 in principle is the first series-produced combat helicopter capable of fulfilling flight missions day and night, but such experience is not yet accumulated in our Armed Forces. For the purpose, these air vehicles are being tested in Torzhok and methodics of their operation is being worked out. In other words, these vehicles are adapted for operation under real conditions. It is worth mentioning that the Mi-24N helicopters have already become fire-seasoned in hot spots of our country and received favorable comments. At the present time we have some problems and remarks linked with operation and we are eliminating them. Problems also arise in furnishing the Mi-24N with ground support equipment, but these are routine problems arising in placement of new helicopters in the inventory. We solve these problems jointly with subcontractors.
In the course of MAKS-2005 air salon we received information that it was planned to modify the Mi-28N helicopter transmission. What does it comprise?
No basic modification of the Mi-28N helicopter transmission is planned. The tests revealed no demands of deep concern, though, some problems are revealed that require correction and finishing. These arising problems are normal and the tests are carried out to eliminate them. The characteristics of the Mi-28N transmission are optimal and no essential modification is planned. The Mi-28N rotor system is fit for retrofitting the derivatives – it is installed on the Mi-24 helicopter.
Do you have any problems in introduction of the Mi-28N rotor system on the Mi-24 helicopter?
No. Today we already install the Mi-28N rotor system: rotor hub, blades, tail rotor on the Mi-24 helicopter, and this makes possible to feasibly enhance the Mi-24 performance. It is important that the elements of the combat helicopter can be installed on the series-produced air vehicle practically without introduction of changes. Thus we can significantly reduce the costs for upgrading the flying vehicles fleet. Of course, certain modifications of the helicopter structure are required, but they are insignificant. In the event of Mi-24 we had to develop a hybrid swash plate assembly which couples the Mi-24 control system with the rotor new hub.
The advertising materials of the MIL Moscow Helicopter Plant include the Mi-35PM and Mi-24PN helicopters. What are distinctive features between them ?
These abbreviations were in use at the stage of experimental works .At this stage we had several Mi-35 modified versions with various Russian avionics, new rotor system and new VK-2500 engines. At the present time, if we speak of configurations of series-produced helicopters or prototypes, there are only two versions: Mi-24PN that, as we have already said, is being delivered to operational units, and Mi-35M export version. The Mi-24PN is equipped with a fixed gun mount and standard rotor system and is rated for operations at night. The Mi-35M configuration has a moving gun mount installed in the fore section, type of sight and rotor system different from those of the Mi-28N. The Mi-35M is adapted for operation under conditions of elevated humidity, high temperature and high mountains. The use of “night hunter” rotor system makes possible to improve its performance in the operations under the above conditions. Depending on the received order, the Mi-35M can be delivered to the Russian Armed Fo0rces and the Mi-24PN for export. Such example is available: contract has already been signed and the Mi-24PN helicopters were supplied to Uganda.
At the MAKS air salon we received information about possible supplies to India of Mi-35MI helicopters with Israel-made avionics. What does this modification comprise ?
Mi-35MI designation is not official till now. Currently negotiations are conducted by “ROSOBORNEXPORT” on modification of MI-35 helicopters placed in the inventory of India and on the supply of modified helicopters of this type. In fact, the IAI company has already modified part of Mi-35 Indian air vehicles. This modification satisfies the Indian side and, on agreement with Delhi, we conduct negotiations on this modification of the remaining vehicles of this type with account of the IAI proposal regarding the modification of airborne equipment and sight system. As to the supply of modified vehicles, we have a version of this helicopter equipped with Russian avionics. At the present time the customer should select either the Russian variant or Russian-Israel variant of modification. In the latter case, the portion of foreign airborne equipment installed aboard the helicopter is about 20%.
Is the helicopter configuration for India the same as that for Venezuela ?
Yes. The Mi-35 helicopter nears the end of tests in the framework of the contract signed with Venezuela. By the way, the delegation of this country should come to Russia for acceptance of the produced helicopters in February. Actually, the same tested helicopter we offer for consideration to the Indian side. Of course, additional customer’s requirements can be declared at the stage of negotiations. In this case, we have to retrofit the vehicle to meet the customer’s wishes. Today contracts are very rare when the vehicle configuration of export version corresponds to basic Specifications. As a rule, subject to modification are airborne equipment and sight systems.
At what stage is the preparation of Mi-38 for series production?
The first Mi-38 is scheduled for series production late 2008 and early 2009. It became a good practice to prepare the helicopter series production at stages of prototype assembly and factory, joint and state tests follow this practice at the “Rostvertol” before starting the production of the Mi-28N helicopter. This made possible to produce the second prototype that nowadays undergoes tests at the series production plant. At the present time, the Mi-28N nears the completion of tests and is already prepared for series production. The same approach to the preparation for production is true for the Mi-38 project. The Mi-38OP-1 helicopter version undergoes tests in the test center, the second prototype is being built at the Kazan helicopter plant which simultaneously carries out works for series production. On completion of the second Mi-38OP-2 helicopter and starting the production of the third prototype, we shall be fully prepared for series production. Thus, we have no time gap between the completion of tests and start-up of mass production that was usually practiced in the former USSR.
|
