Russian Mil Mi-26 heavy lift cargo helicopter could be powered by an engine created based on the Aviadvigtel PD-8 engine which is built to be installed on SSJ-NEW passenger aircraft and Be-200 amphibious aircraft. Three prototypes of the PD-8 engine are currently participating in tests, the sidelines of the International Engine Building Forum, held in Moscow from October 26 to 28. Tests are planned for the current and next years, during which a number of issues remain to be resolved. The Mi-26 is currently powered by two Ukrainian Lotarev D-136 turboshaft engines the supply of which stopped in 2015 following the Russian annexation of Crimea.
The customer here is the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The engine for the world’s largest Mi-26 helicopter can be created based on the gas generator of the promising PD-8 engine. The gas generator of the PD-8 engine can be used as a gas generator for the engine of a new generation of the Mi-26 helicopter. The PD-8 engine is based on the PD-14, another innovative propulsion system based on domestic materials, designed to power the MC-21 airliner. The work involves a wide cooperation of Rostec United Engine Corporation (UEC) enterprises, the experience of creating the PD-14 engine is actively used.
On March 21, 2022, TsAGI announced that it had tested an engine nacelle for the domestically built Aviadvigtel PD-8 engine, which is expected to power the SSJ-NEW passenger aircraft, the latest version of the short-haul, narrowbody Sukhoi Superjet 100. The PD-8 engine will power the newest version of the regional Sukhoi Superjet made by Russian aircraft manufacturer Irkut Corporation. During manufacturing, the company expects to replace around 97% of components imported into Russia with domestically sourced parts, including avionics and engine. The PD-engine powered SSJ-NEW aircraft should receive its type certification in 2023, with the first deliveries expected in 2024.
The Mil Mi-26 (NATO reporting name: Halo) is a Soviet/Russian heavy transport helicopter. It is the largest and most powerful helicopter to have gone into serial production. The Mi-26 was designed to replace earlier Mi-6 and Mi-12 heavy lift helicopters and act as a heavy-lift helicopter for military and civil use, having twice the cabin space and payload of the Mi-6. The primary purpose of the Mi-26 was to transport military equipment such as 13-tonne (29,000 lb) amphibious armored personnel carriers and mobile ballistic missiles to remote locations after delivery by military transport aircraft such as the Antonov An-22 or Ilyushin Il-76.
