Kizlyar Electromechanical Plant (KEMZ) has announced the cost of the new AP-55 helicopter. The price of the rotorcraft will start from $2 million.
The stage of testing with the helicopter blades installed has already begun, and the verification of the navigation system will be completed on August 15, 2025. After that, it is planned to proceed to the stage of taxiing and flights at low altitudes, and the start of certification tests is scheduled for September. The plant plans to first obtain a certificate of airworthiness (CoA), and type certification - after receiving a firm order for 50 helicopters.
The production of the first ten helicopters has already been launched, and the existing capacity allows producing up to 15 machines per year, with the possibility of increasing to 50 if necessary. According to the company, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Arab countries and India have shown interest in the helicopter. The company is conducting several preliminary negotiations, but the conclusion of contracts will be possible only after the completion of flight tests.
KEMZ also offers potential users to organize joint production in the territories of friendly countries. The plant produces almost all helicopter components, including blades, rotor system, gearbox, overrunning clutch, fan, control system, fuselage, chassis and canopy. Currently, only avionics and a foreign-made Rolls-Royce engine with a capacity of 450 hp are not localized. However, KEMZ plans to replace it with a Russian analogue in the future.
AP-55 is designed as a light multi-purpose helicopter with a take-off weight of 1.36–1.55 tons. Its speed is 260 km/h, and the flight range is up to 700 km. Its key feature is compactness. This allows the helicopter to land on a site of 15×15 meters.
The announced price of the new AP-55 helicopter at $2 million is not competitive for the Russian market.
In the national currency, the cost is from 160 million rubles. Compared to the "conditional new "Robinsons" model 44, which today cost an average of $600 thousand, the price for a Russian helicopter is not competitive.
Earlier www1.ru reported that the future of the new Russian AP-55 helicopter is in question.
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