The new multi-purpose Ka-65 "Minoga" helicopter has finally reached the flight test stage and may take to the skies in the next few months. This was stated by aviation expert Alexey Zakharov, citing sources.
According to him, the Ministry of Defense, as a key customer, is able to adequately finance the development. The production order was sent to one of the plants of the Rostec's "Russian Helicopters" holding.
Zakharov explained that the new rotorcraft will replace several models in the aircraft fleet at once - the Ka-27M, Ka-27PS, Ka-29 modernized in 2015, and even the Ka-31.
The requirements for the composition and characteristics of the target equipment led to an increase in the size of the Ka-65. It is significantly longer than the Ka-27 and is close in length to the Mi-38. The weight will also increase, which will allow for modifications, including civilian ones. For example, ice reconnaissance vehicles for our icebreakers.
The "Tekhnosfera Rossiya" publication added that the new helicopter will fit into the air group of the first universal assault ship of project 23900 "Ivan Rogov".
In addition, the Ka-65 will have similar dimensions to the Mi-38 and at least comparable load capacity, but at the same time it is designed according to the coaxial scheme traditional for the Kamov Design Bureau.
Preliminary, the Ka-65 will receive TV7-117VK engines with a maximum power of 3750 hp in emergency mode and 2800 hp at take-off. They have already been put into mass production and are installed on Mi-38 helicopters.
