Kamov-226T, or Ka-226T, a small, multi-purpose helicopter, designed by Kamov Design Bureau, which is affiliated to Russian Helicopters, is soon to make its presence felt in India as two helicopters are due to be delivered by the end of March and yet another one in June this year.
Under the Intergovernmental agreement signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2016, the plan originally is to manufacture 200 Ka-226T under India’s ‘Make in India’ programme, but as the facility starts its operations, the quantity of these light utility helicopters produced can be increased up as per requirement.
This helicopter multipurpose helicopter and is intended to conduct aerial reconnaissance, targeting patrol to drop small reconnaissance and sabotage groups, transport cargo and passengers and evacuate the wounded.
The baseline helicopter can accommodate a variety of modules with special equipment and can be modified for patrol, search & rescue, medical, transport or freight; passenger or corporate. The Ka-226T’s airborne equipment provides safe flight control both along air routes and in off-the-airway regulated and unregulated airspace, day and night, and in adverse weather conditions.
lighting equipment of the Ka-226T’s cockpit enables the pilot to fly the helicopter at night, including using night vision goggles. The effectiveness of patrol and search missions at night can be enhanced by using TV or thermal imaging equipment. The helicopter can carry various types of special and optional equipment.
It has two propellers and is a coaxial helicopter with the maximum take off and landing weight of 3.6 tonne. It has the maximum internal payload of one tonne and external payload of 1.3 tonne. Its ability to maneuver makes it the best helicopter of the kind.
Ka-226T obtained certification in Russia in 2015. In 2017, Russian Helicopters and Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC) accomplished Ka-226T trials in Iran. It proved that it can successfully operate in extremely high temperature up to +50 degrees Centigrade.
Meanwhile, Russian news agencies have been steadily reporting that trials of Ka-226T Naval version for patrol ships are going on and are proving to be quite successful. The difference between land and Naval versions is that the latter will have foldable blades so that it can be more easily based on board of a ship. It will have enhanced anticorrosion protection and more complex avionics for better take-off and landing in disorienting sea conditions.
At present, India also has a requirement for light utility Naval helicopters to replace Cheetah and Chetak fleet. After the Ka-226T production facility (joint venture with HAl ltd.) starts its operations, the defence ministry may also explore the opportunity to use the same production facility to make both Ka-226T land and Naval version. It could prove advantageous from the point of view of technology transfer and cutting production costs by using an already existing facility.
The sooner the joint venture on Ka-226T production becomes operational in India the better. In fact, it could become yet another ‘Make in India’ success story and even replicate the high benchmark of Indo-Russian defence technology cooperation set up by BrahMos Aerospace. like BrahMos, Ka-226T JV might see a future of expanding its technological capabilities by increasing production, diversifying model line and exploring export opportunities.
‘Make in India’ is yet to make India advance technologically and commercially and Ka-226 T might contribute its bit into it.