Russian Helicopters could replace supplies of Ukraine-produced engines within 18 months according to Deputy General Director Andrei Shibitov.  Quoted in a speech at the Innoprom industrial exhibition and conference in Yekaterinburg this week.

Headquartered in Zaporizhia, the Ukraine-based manufacturer Motor Sich was clearly in Shibitov’s sights.  He noted that the Russian Ministry of Industry has launched a program to remove the dependance on imported engines and said that the first production engines made entirely in Russia, will roll off the production line before the end of 2014.  He expects that by the end of 2015, production rates from this new factory will mean that they no longer need to import any engines from outside Russia.

No mention was made of the need to certify new engines or the necessary build-up of experience (flying hours) to give customers confidence in a newly designed and produced powerplant.  To all intents and purposes, Motor Sich produces engines for every Russian-designed helicopter at present.

Nikolai Vanesev – HeliHub.com Moscow correspondent