OREANDA-NEWS. A unique unmanned tiltrotor has successfully completed a new testing stage by performing its first flight.  The aircraft was created by VR-Technologies, an innovative design bureau, part of Russian Helicopters. A number of oil and gas companies and various government agencies are already showing interest in the unique project.

“The development of the unique aircraft started in 2015.  Since then, we have achieved significant results and have already started the first stage of flight tests,” said the CEO of VR-Technologies Alexander Okhonko. 

The project is implemented as part of the Speed program adopted by Russian Helicopters. The main objective during the development of the unmanned aircraft was to create a flying test bed to determine the efficiency of design layouts and search for innovative solutions. 

A number of potential customers are ready to buy the unmanned complex for tasks related to monitoring and environmental control in areas with no possibility to use air strips.  The complex can maintain smoke control in forests and restrained urban conditions, make aerial photographs, conduct monitoring of oil and gas facilities, and transport medical supplies to hard-to-reach areas. 

The project of the future multirole unmanned aerial vehicle was first unveiled by Russian Helicopters in August 2015 during MAKS International Air Show.

Tiltrotors are a special class of rotorcrafts that have a number of advantages over traditional aerial vehicles built up according to the airplane or helicopter schemes.  They can make vertical takeoffs and landings on restricted landing pads while transporting passengers or cargo with greater speed and over longer distances than traditional helicopters.

Russian Helicopters performed the tests of the tiltrotor at Skolkovo Innovation Centre.

VR Technologies was created in 2014 as an innovative design bureau of Russian Helicopters to provide competitive scientific and technological solutions for helicopters. 

Russian Helicopters, (part of State Corporation Rostec), is one of the global leaders in helicopter production and the only helicopter design and production powerhouse in Russia. Russian Helicopters was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. The company comprises five helicopter production facilities, two design bureaus, a spare parts production and repair facility, as well as an aftersale service branch responsible for maintenance and repair in Russia and all over the world. Its helicopters are popular among Russian ministries and state authorities (Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Emergency Control Ministry), operators (Gazpromavia, UTair), major Russian corporations. In 2014 its IFRS revenues increased 22,8% to RUB 169,8 billion. Deliveries reached 271 helicopters.

State Corporation Rostec is a Russian corporation founded in 2007 for the purpose of promoting the development, production and export of hi-tech civilian and military industry products. It comprises 700 organisations, nine of which have now been formed as holding companies of the military-industrial complex, five of them are involved in civil industries and 22 are directly controlled. Rostec’s portfolio includes recognised brands such as Avtovaz, Kamaz, Russian Helicopters, and VSMPO-AVISMA. Rostec’s organisations are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply their products to the markets of more than 70 countries. The revenue of Rostec in 2014 amounted to RUB 964.5 billion. The tax deductions into the treasuries at all levels exceeded RUB 147.8 billion.