VK-1600V (helicopter engine)

2021: Fully 3D helicopter engine design

For the first time in Russia, the helicopter engine is designed entirely in 3D. This was announced by the United Engine Corporation (UEC) Rostec at the end of May 2021.

The JDC noted that 3D design has several important advantages:

• ease of reading;
• Use models with annotations as design documentation
• full accounting of all adjacent nodes.

VK-1600V (helicopter engine)

VK-1600V is the first engine in Russian history that was designed without drawings on paper at all. All work is carried out electronically, which allows you to always have the necessary contextual information before your eyes. Working with 3D models allows you to design the engine directly "inside" the helicopter, control the docking of objects both in the power plant itself and in the engine nacelle, "said Anton Kolosov, acting deputy director of the program - acting deputy chief designer of VK-1600 JSC UEC-Klimov, whose words are quoted by the Rostec press service.

It is noted that when creating the VK-1600B demonstrator, up to 70% of the casting will be replaced with parts created using 3D printing. Using additive technologies, elements will be made, including the "hot" part of the power plant.

The VK-1600V engine is designed for installation on Ka-62 helicopters, multi-purpose and special helicopters with a take-off weight of 5-8 tons. The engine power at take-off mode is 1400 hp. Together with the engine, the BARK-15V automatic control and control unit, which was also developed by UEC-Klimov JSC, will work.

A demonstration model of the engine is planned to be presented in the third quarter of 2021. Product certification is scheduled for 2023, and serial production for 2024th. By May 2021, the first tests are being prepared, where its main characteristics declared in the terms of reference must be confirmed.^[1]

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