Kazan Ansat

History of Kazan Ansat

The medium utility helicopter market is highly competitive, so it is not surprising that there are many players in the field. Russia's Kazan Helicopters - once a contributor to many Mil helicopter products - now manages its own helicopter design and manufacturing direction. After a failed joint venture attempt with Eurocopter, Kazan finally became independent in the early to mid-1990s, formed its own in-house engineering team, and set new product goals. One of the designs became a light helicopter platform, which made its maiden flight on August 17, 1999.

Known today as "Ansat", the product has multiple possible variations on the base design and is expected to attract some interest from the global market - especially as many stroke utility types around the world are nearing the end of their useful life.

The standard Ansat design consists of two crew members sitting side by side in a typical configuration. Therefore, the middle part of the fuselage is reserved for passengers, and the helicopter can comfortably accommodate up to ten people. In addition, the cabin can be configured for different roles - civilian and military - giving the product a modular quality.

The engine bay is usually located on top of the cab and consists of 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW2-7K turboshafts, each producing up to 630 hp. The engine drives a four-blade main rotor, which is mounted on a short mast, and a two-blade tail rotor, which is offset to the starboard side of the aircraft.

Large sliding side doors allow for relatively easy entry and exit of the cabin, and the pilot in front uses car-style hinged doors. Visibility from the cockpit is expected to be strong thanks to the widest possible use of clear windshields.

The landing gear has anti-skid devices that allow the helicopter to land on unprepared surfaces with relative ease.

At least a few large prototypes emerged from testing, the first of which led the way in ground tests of static airframes. The next prototype was an airworthy version, marking the series' first official test flight in 1999. A follow-up prototype was identified as an elongated fuselage with increased internal volume, and another prototype fitted with new clamshell doors in the passenger cabin, with the lower part used as a convenient stairwell. The standard Ansat helicopter has a top speed of 170 mph and a cruising speed of about 155 mph.

The range is expected to reach approximately 335 miles, with a service ceiling of 14,760 feet and a climb rate of nearly 4,250 feet per minute.

Such an extensive development approach has led Kazan to offer several noteworthy configurations: "Ansat-U" is a military-focused helicopter trainer with a dual control scheme for students and instructors (this version was developed by Aeroflot The company develops Force as the next helicopter trainer platform). The "Ansat-UT" is another variant, but unlike the original's skid, it has a wheeled chassis. "Ansat-M" is a medical evacuation platform designed to transport two hospital beds, medical personnel and appropriate mission equipment.

To generate interest in the military market, "Ansat-UM" followed suit as a militarized medical evacuation product that could carry up to four hospital beds.

While these are useful helicopter offerings, the most interesting offshoot of the Ansat family is the proposed "Ansat-2RC" - a heavily modified two-seat light attack helicopter model based on the inner workings of Ansat. The crew sits in a layered cockpit, which results in a thinner fuselage and a thinner front profile.

For simplicity and robustness, the skid undercarriage was retained, as was the four-blade main rotor, starboard mounted tail rotor and twin-engine pairing. Standard armament consists of a fixed position 12.7mm heavy machine gun on the starboard side of the hull.

Optional weapons will be mounted along two short wings, each managing a pair of hardpoints. The helicopter is expected to support a variety of Russian and Western weapons products, including homing/guided missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods, and even conventionally dropped bombs.

Ansat-2RC was exhibited at MAKS 2007 to prove the concept and generate early interest in the product.

Specification

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