Kazan Ansat

Kazan Helicopters

Industry	Aerospace, Helicopter manufacturing
Founded	1940s (exact date not specified)
Headquarters	Kazan , Russia
Products	Helicopters (including Kazan Ansat)

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The Kazan Ansat is a lightweight, versatile helicopter produced in Russia by Kazan Helicopters.

History

Located in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia, Kazan Helicopters has been a key producer of helicopters designed by the Mikhail Mil bureau. During the 1990s, the company’s leadership identified a growing demand within Russia for light helicopters, as the existing fleet of standard Mi-2 models was aging and increasingly outdated. The Mi-2, although larger than many Western light helicopters, remained the lightest rotorcraft widely operated across the former USSR. Initially, Kazan Helicopters sought to develop a new helicopter based on the AS 350 Ecureuil through collaboration with Eurocopter, but this effort did not come to fruition. Consequently, in 1993, Kazan Helicopters established its own design bureau—officially recognized by Russian authorities in January 1997 under designer Valery Dvoeglazov—to develop a new rotorcraft. This helicopter was named Ansat, which translates as "light", "simple", or "easy" in the Tatar language.

By 1998, the initial prototype intended for ground static testing was finalized. The second prototype (initially numbered 02, later 902) conducted its inaugural flight on August 17, 1999; however, its first official flight occurred on October 6, 1999. This model was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206 engines. A subsequent prototype featuring an elongated and more streamlined fuselage powered by two PW207K engines took flight on December 27, 2001 (originally no. 03, then 904). Starting from 2002, this version underwent certification procedures. Notably, the third prototype incorporated clam shell doors opening both upwards and downwards rather than sliding doors and was introduced as the Ansat-U military trainer variant featuring dual controls.

In September 2001, the Ansat-U secured victory in a competition to become the trainer helicopter for the Russian Air Force. By 2010, four units were operational at the Syzran Military Pilot Flying Training School of the Russian Air Force. Plans were made to acquire an additional 20 helicopters powered by Ukrainian Motor Sich MS-500V engines to replace the Pratt & Whitney units used in the initial four Ansats. The new light multipurpose civilian ANSAT, equipped with a hydromechanical control system developed by JSC "Kazan Helicopter Plant," received its type certification from the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) on August 28, 2013. This certification authorized freight operations for commercial use. Subsequently, in December 2014, IAC AR approved significant modifications (as an addition to the type certificate), permitting passenger transportation within commercial aviation. The introduction of medical variants completed the development of a unified helicopter platform certified for both transport and medical missions involving personnel movement. Earlier iterations of these helicopters had been utilized by Russian state agencies including the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and FSB.

File:Kazan Ansat (RA-20012) cockpit.jpg

Cockpit view of Ansat-U

A VIP-configured Ansat model was certified on December 31, 2015; this version featured an interior styled after Aurus luxury automobiles and was unveiled in early February 2020. The helicopter includes a hydromechanical control system and accommodates up to seven energy-absorbing seats within its passenger cabin. Additionally, it is outfitted with ventilation and air conditioning systems. Vadim Ligai, General Director at Kazan Helicopter Plant, has indicated ongoing efforts to upgrade the fuel system and incorporate supplementary fuel tanks with an additional capacity of 200 kg to extend flight range.

On October 28, 2016, Russian Helicopters unveiled a civilian variant of the Ansat helicopter. Between 2017 and 2018, extensive ground and flight tests certified the helicopter’s capability to operate reliably under extreme temperature conditions ranging from minus 45°С to plus 50°С. Following trials conducted at Mount Elbrus in 2018, January 2019 saw certification from the Federal Air Transport Agency increasing the permissible takeoff and landing altitude from 1,000 meters to 3,500 meters—authorizing high-altitude operations for the Ansat. In March 2020, certification was granted for an optional Emergency Floatation System designed for this model. Since May 2020, a specialized medical variant known as Ansat-SK has been deployed in emergency medical services operations. The modernized Ansat-M completed its maiden flight in December 2020. Certifications for installations such as a winch capable of lifting up to 272 kg and an external sling for transporting oversized cargo or firefighting were obtained in April 2021; furthermore, approval for an external fuel tank extending flight range by an additional 140 km was granted in December 2021.

Procurement

Between 2009 and 2010, the Russian Defence Ministry became the first customer to order eight Ansat-U military helicopters. Subsequently, on 1 March 2011, an additional 32 Ansat-U helicopters were commissioned. A third agreement, signed on 5 June 2017, secured ten more Ansat-U units. The final delivery of this series to the Russian Aerospace Forces occurred on 20 December 2017. All Ansat helicopters within the Russian Aerospace Forces are operated by the Syzran Higher Military Aviation School, which functions as a division of the Zhukovsky – Gagarin Air Force Academy.

At the VIII International Helicopter Industry Exhibition HeliRussia 2015 held on 22 May, Russian Helicopters finalized two contracts to supply five upgraded light passenger Ansat helicopters. Of these, three were allocated to the Tatarstan-based airline Tulpar Helicopters, while the remaining two were destined for Vector Aviation.

On 27 December 2016, Russian Helicopters entered into an agreement with the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK) for the provision of six Ansat helicopters outfitted with medical modules. Later, on 6 December 2017, GTLK expanded its order by purchasing an additional 31 medical helicopters, including 12 Ansat models. Deliveries for this batch were completed in 2018. These medical-configured helicopters are operated by Russian Helicopter Systems as part of their emergency medical transport fleet.

During the 2018 Hydroaviasalon event, subsidiaries of Rostec State Corporation—namely Russian Helicopters, National Service of Medical Aviation, and Avia Capital Services LLC—signed a contract to supply a total of 104 Ansat and 46 Mi-8AMT helicopters equipped for medical use.

At Airshow China 2018, Russian Helicopters and the Chinese Association for Disaster & Emergency Rescue Medicine (CADERM) agreed upon a contract for delivering 20 Ansat helicopters. The helicopter model received certification in China in early 2020.

On 16 May 2019, during the XII International Helicopter Industry Exhibition HeliRussia 2019, Russian Helicopters and Polar Airlines signed a contract for seven Ansat helicopter deliveries.

In early 2020, Eritrea placed an order for two Ansat-U military helicopters with delivery planned within that year.

The Interior Ministry of the Serbian Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina ordered three Ansat helicopters for police operations in early 2020, with deliveries scheduled between 2020 and 2022.

Design

The Ansat features a conventional configuration accommodating a pilot alongside 10 passengers, including one seated adjacent to the pilot. Its fuselage is equipped with two doors in the cockpit area and two side doors in the passenger compartment that open both upwards and downwards. When the seats are removed, the cabin can carry up to 1000 kg of cargo internally. Additionally, it supports an external sling load capacity of 1300 kg. Propulsion is provided by two PW207K turboshaft engines, each delivering 630 shp. The helicopter is equipped with a main rotor consisting of four blades and a tail rotor with two blades.

Variants

File:Ansat-LL.JPG

Kazan Ansat-O flying laboratory

File:Kazan Ansat - 100th anniversary of Russian Air Force -02.jpg

Russian Air Force Kazan Ansat-U

File:ANSAT-M on MAKS-2021 airshow.jpg

Ansat-M displayed at MAKS-2021

Ansat

Initial model with two prototypes constructed.

Ansat-M

Updated variant featuring lower empty weight and enhanced fuel capacity, with serial production anticipated from 2022.

Ansat-NT

Planned next-generation model incorporating two VK-800V or approximately 700 shp Klimov VK-650V turboshaft engines, paired with a new four- or five-blade main rotor.

Ansat-O

Flight laboratory designed for testing avionics intended for naval helicopters.

Ansat-U

Military trainer version equipped with a three-wheel landing gear and double-wing cargo doors.

Ansat-UM

Medical evacuation military variant capable of transporting four stretchers.

Ansat-1K

Model certified exclusively for cargo transportation.

Ansat-1M

Version utilizing a hydro-mechanical KSU-A control system instead of fly-by-wire technology.

Ansat-SK

Variant tailored for emergency medical service (EMS) missions.

Derivatives

File:Kazan Ansat-2RC, MAKS 2007.jpg

Kazan Ansat-2RC at MAKS-2007

Kazan Ansat-2RC

Adapted from the civilian model, this version is armed with a 12.7mm (0.5 inch) machine gun mounted above the front skid support and features four hardpoints distributed across two stub wings. Demonstrations have shown it carrying a combination of rocket launcher pods, bombs, and anti-aircraft missiles.

Operators

Template:Country data Eritrea

• Eritrean Air Force

Template:Country data Mexico

• Craft Avia Center

Template:Country data People's Republic of China

• Chinese Association for Disaster & Emergency Rescue Medicine

Template:Country data Republika Srpska

• Special Anti-Terrorist Unit

Template:RUS

• Russian Aerospace Forces
• Ministry of Emergency Situations
• Tulpar Helicopters
  • Vector Aviation
• Russian Helicopter SystemsTemplate:Unreliable source?
• Polar Airlines
• Rostec State Corporation
• Russian Helicopters
• National Service of Medical Aviation
• Avia Capital Services LLC

Template:Country data Turkmenistan

• Turkmenistan Airlines

Template:Country data Zimbabwe

• Zimbabwe Republic Police

Bibliography

• Broadbent, Mark. "Rotary Focus: Ansat for emergency services". Air International, July 2020, Vol. 99, No. 1. p. 16. Template:ISSN.
• Butowski, Piotr. "Russian Review: New designations for Ansat". Air International, July 2020, Vol. 99, No. 1. p. 30. Template:ISSN.
• Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
• Mladenov, Alexander. "Re-engined Ansat for Russia". Air International, November 2010, Vol 79 No 5. p. 26. Template:ISSN.
• Mladenov, Alexander. "Ansat". Air International, February 2016, Vol 90, No. 2. pp. 78–82. Template:ISSN

External links

• Official Ansat webpage