KAMOV COMPANY: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW

Interview by Sergei Mikheyev, Kamov General Designer and Director General
 

The Kamov company has designed and introduced into series production the Ka-15, Ka-18, Ka-25, Ka-27, Ka-31, Ka-29, Ka-26, Ka-32 and Ka-50 helicopters for both military and civilian applications.

- The company was founded by Nikolai Kamov 50 years ago. For several generations of designers, engineers, technologists and workers, these years have been a period of intensive creative research, victories and defeats in the development of coaxial-rotor helicopters - the trademark of the Kamov company.

Ka-10

Nikolai Kamov was a confirmed proponent of this helicopter configuration. He believed that the engineering and technological complexity of coaxial rotors would be overwhelmingly made up for by the more compact and maneuverable design compared to a single-rotor configuration.

Historically, this approach can be divided into three periods: the initial period, when the first Kamov machine (Ka-10) was designed in 1949 and a foundation was laid for the coaxial-rotor helicopter building school; the second period of research and development into optimal and reliable configuration of main rotors and their control system; and finally, the period which can be called the time of maturity, when the series production of Kamov helicopters began, their application range was specified, and the school of coaxial-rotor helicopter building was deepened and further expanded and methodical approaches and computation techniques radically improved. The culmination of this period is represented by the Ka-50 combat helicopter, which has combined the latest research, design and technological achievements.

Ka-22

Today, 50 years since the beginning of coaxial-rotor helicopter development, we can say that this aircraft-building sector has become our national pride. Over these years, the Kamov company has designed and introduced into series production the Ka-15, Ka-18, Ka-25, Ka-27, Ka-31, Ka-29, Ka-26, Ka-32 and Ka-50 helicopters for both military and civilian applications. In addition to its main line of business, Kamov has developed many designs of various configurations: tandem-rotor, single-rotor, jet-assisted rotor helicopters and even airships.

Concurrently, we were also involved in the development of hybrid aircraft which combined rotary and fixed-wing aircraft features. In 1960, the Ka-22 prototype made its maiden flight, and later set a number of world records, including maximum speed (356 km/h) and payload (16,500 kg) records. Several more designs of this configuration were later developed to provide for the transportation of heavy payloads over long distances.

Over the years, the roles of Kamov helicopters have also been specified. Notably, the interests of the two national leading helicopter developers and producers, the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and Kamov company, never crossed: Kamov mainly specialized in supplying helicopters for the Navy, while Mil - for the Army and civil aviation.

Currently, the situation has changed and Kamov operations include four profiles: Navy shipboard helicopters (Ka-27, Ka-29, Ka-31), Army aviation helicopters (Ka-50, Ka-52, Ka-60), civil aviation multipurpose helicopters (Ka-126, Ka-115, Ka-62, Ka-64, Ka-32A) and remotely piloted vehicles (Ka-137).

An especially important event in the year of the Kamov jubilee took place in May, when the Canadian Ministry of Transport completed the type certification of our Ka-32A, which will allow it to operate in all countries complying with U.S. FAR.

Ka-32

To sum up the company's results of 50 years, we can say that a tremendous amount of work has been done: a research school has been established and unique experience accumulated in coaxial-rotor helicopters; a whole range of military and civilian machines has been developed which are currently in operation in Russia and abroad; a portfolio of helicopter designs in all weight categories have been prepared with some of them already being implemented.

- Could you name the most prominent people from Kamov?

- Currently, Kamov employs a creative force of proficient specialists capable of solving unique research and technological problems vital for the development of highly efficient and competitive helicopters for various purposes. We have a team of chief designers whose contribution to Kamov development is great: Ye. Pak, G. Yakimenko, V. Krygin, Ye. Sudarev, V. Kasyanikov, A. Vakulenko and others. Several Doctors of Science (Technology) recently appeared on our staff further enhance Kamov's research potential.

We are proud of our designers, technologists and workers who have created a whole pallet of helicopters which are successfully operated in Russia and many foreign countries. Over the years, the intellectual level of Kamov has significantly grown, as well as its international prestige.

- What are the plans of Kamov's designers? Are there any new combat helicopters under development?

- It is obvious that the domestic helicopter fleet is largely obsolete, does not meet growing customer requirements and needs rejuvenation. Many classes of helicopters, formerly represented by the Mi-2, Mi-4 and Ka-26, are now virtually non-existent. Well aware of this fact, foreign companies are aggressively marketing their products to the Russian market.

We can currently offer our potential customers a range of helicopters in various weight categories capable of meeting the most stringent customer requirements and applications. The multipurpose Ka-115, Ka-126, Ka-226, Ka-62, Ka-64, remotely piloted Ka-137 and other machines do not yield to and often outdo their foreign counterparts in terms of performance.

As Russia is a traditional supplier of heavy-lift helicopters, we are modifying the Ka-32 helicopter to increase its external payload capacity to 7,000 kg and then to 10,000 kg.

As far as combat helicopters are concerned, I can tell you that we have recently held a presentation of the Ka-60 multirole helicopter intended for the Army. It is currently undergoing ground tests and will soon take to the air.

As the Ka-50 and Ka-52 are prominent weapons platforms with excellent modernization opportunities, work is under way to equip them with more advanced avionics systems, including those from foreign companies. This will increase their combat capabilities, the range of missions and make them more competitive on the market. At Farnborough '98, we displayed the mockup of a Ka-50 cockpit fitted with new Russian-made avionics. And this is not a complete list of Kamov current projects. An advanced helicopter design has been recently developed which will serve as a baseline model for new helicopter versions.

- Could you express your view of military helicopter development trends.

- The current trends include the decrease in equipment weight, more intelligent avionics, units and parts unification, the expansion and integration of missions, and the growth of R&D and production costs, as well as labor consumption. Apparently, these trends open new opportunities for the development of multirole helicopters.

Ka-62

However, I am convinced that there are certain missions which require special-purpose helicopters, for example, antitank or antisubmarine warfare helicopters and others. These machines should not be designed for mass use, but feature maximum efficiency in their dedicated roles.

- Mr. Mikheyev, will you comment on Kamov's commercial activities, specifically on the international market.

- We have to assert that the share of state defense orders has sharply decreased and lost its priority at Kamov.

However, we survived and achieved relatively good results due to civil commercial projects. Each of them found its niche on the domestic and international markets and we are open for their further funding and implementation.

Today we are actively involved in the international marketing campaign for the Ka-32 helicopter. The Canadian airworthiness certificate issued this year will significantly help us compete with foreign companies.

We continue supplying our helicopters to South Korea. Unfortunately, our Malaysian contract failed following the financial crisis which broke out in that country.

Our Ka-50 takes part in the Turkish tender for combat helicopter licensed production. Notably, this Ka-50 will be equipped with Israeli-produced avionics.

Our international commercial success is still modest. However, we are optimistic about the future and can offer customers a whole range of military and civil helicopters.