The An-2 may be equipped with a new VK-1600S turboprop engine with a power of 1450 horsepower. The VK-800 is being considered as an alternative, but its development and certification will need to be completed before the engine can be installed on the modernized aircraft. This was announced by Deputy Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Gennady Abramenkov.
The VK-1600S is considered the main option for re-engining the updated An-2. The engine is being developed by the St. Petersburg enterprise "ODK-Klimov" under the order of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. It was developed based on the helicopter VK-1600V, with about 60–65% of the design of the two versions being unified.
The aircraft version received a modified free turbine, new elements of the gearbox and accessory drive. As part of the power plant, the VK-1600S should work with the AV-17 propeller. The engine is designed for operation at altitudes up to 4500 m and at temperatures from −50 to +55 °С, and control should be carried out by the FADEC electronic system.
For the An-2 itself, replacing the power plant is of fundamental importance. The basic aircraft has used the piston ASh-62IR for decades, while the VK-1600S belongs to a new generation of turboprop engines. The appearance of a domestic engine of this class makes it possible to abandon dependence on foreign power plants when creating new variants of the legendary biplane.