It will be able to transport up to 15 tons of cargo
The long-range wide-body aircraft COMAC CR929 was supposed to become an example of cooperation between China and Russia in the aviation industry, but it will no longer be: now the landmark project of the two countries is the AC332 AHL heavy helicopter. And here everything is going according to schedule, according to the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov.
«Advanced stage. From the point of view of all schedules and stages, everything is being followed. Before this there were approaches, planning, sketches. Now the contract execution stage is already underway», — said Manturov, quoted by TASS.
An agreement between Russia (Russian Helicopters holding, part of Rostec) and China (Avicopter) on the joint creation of a heavy transport helicopter was signed in 2021. As part of the agreement, Russia will develop the transmission, tail rotor, and anti-icing system, and China will create a prototype, take over testing, licensing and promoting the vehicle on the market.
13 years are allotted for the full implementation of the project. It is assumed that the flight range of the AC332 AHL will reach 630 km, the maximum speed — 300 km/h, maximum altitude — 5700 m. The helicopter will be able to transport cargo weighing 10 tons when placed inside the fuselage and weighing up to 15 tons — when placed on an external sling.