Upgraded Mi-2 MSB

Upgraded Mi-2 SME.

Motor Sich is a Ukrainian company based in Zaporizhia that adopted Soviet technologies and production lines for aircraft, aircraft and helicopter engines as a result of the collapse of the USSR. In addition, he modernizes the helicopters in service, giving them a "second life". In the future, Motor Sicz plans to develop and sell its own developments.

In August 2011, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Motor Sich, Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Boguslaev, said in an interview that the company had begun work on a modernized Mi-2 MSB helicopter (Motor Sich, Boguslaev), equipped with new, more powerful and economical engines. Funds for these purposes were guaranteed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which the Mi-2 SMEs intended to use in combat aviation training. An order has been placed for the conversion of 12 Mi-2 helicopters to the new standard.

The upgraded Mi-2 MSB received two AI-450M-B gas turbine engines with a maximum power of 430 hp. each (for comparison: two GTD-2s of 350 hp each were installed on the Mi-400) and a satellite navigation system receiver. The helicopter first took to the air on July 4, 2014.

On November 28, 2014, the first Mi-2 SME was handed over to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for military tests, which ended with a positive result on December 3, after 44 test flights. On December 26, 2014, at the Chuguev air base (203. Training aviation brigade), the first two modernized Mi-2 SMEs were officially transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force, which at the same time officially put them into service. Two years later, the modernization of 12 Mi-2 helicopters to the Mi-2 MSB standard was completed.

All work related to it was carried out at the Vinnitsa Aviation Plant, specially acquired for this purpose by Motor Sich in 2011. To ensure the success of the project, the course "helicopter engineering" was created at the Kharkov Aviation University, the graduates of which began to enter the design department of the Vinnitsa Aviation Plant. On the other hand, the design department was primarily concerned with proven designs with engines manufactured by Motor Sich (Mi-2, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-24), for which new types of engines were developed, i.e. - is called the 5th generation, which has more power, lower fuel consumption, increased resistance to high temperatures and allows you to significantly increase hovering and flight altitude.

The activity of Motor Sicz was supported by the Ukrainian government. According to the Program for Activating the Development of the Ukrainian Economy, investments in Motor Sich were supposed to save 1,6 billion US dollars on the import of light helicopters (200 units) and receive revenues from the export of new designs at the level of 2,6 billion US dollars ( 300 helicopters with service package).

On June 2, 2016, at the KADEX-2016 arms exhibition, Motor Sicz signed a license agreement with Kazakhstan Aviation Industry LLC to transfer to Kazakhstan the technology for upgrading the Mi-2 helicopter to the Mi-2 MSB standard.

The Mi-2 MSB helicopter with AI-450M-B engines manufactured by Motor Sicz is a deep modernization of the Mi-2, the main purpose of which was to improve its flight performance, technical, economic and operational characteristics. The installation of a new power plant required changes to the helicopter power system, fuel, oil and fire systems, engine cooling system, as well as a new configuration of the hood made of composite materials.

As a result of modernization, the helicopter received a new generation power plant. After remotorization, the total engine power in the takeoff range increased to 860 hp, which gave it new operational capabilities. The AI-450M-B engine has an additional 30-minute power reserve, thanks to which the helicopter can fly with one engine running.

Due to the possibility of using various working equipment placed on an external sling and located in the passenger and transport cabin, the helicopter can perform a wide range of tasks. The Mi-2 MSB can be used for solving transport and passenger tasks (including a superior cabin), search and rescue (with the possibility of installing fire extinguishing equipment), agricultural (with dust collecting or spraying equipment), patrol (with additional measures) air surveillance ) and training (with a dual control system).