Russia’s aerospace industry plans to accelerate plans to design and produce new electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for civil applications, according to recent statements made by several of the country’s so-called “design bureaus.” To date, the Russian industry’s efforts in this field have been mainly focused on military programs and, overall, it seems to be some way behind pioneers in the U.S. and western Europe.
Recent Russian media reports suggest that Yakovlev is actively considering plans to design a civil version of its Yak-38 eVTOL fighter aircraft. However, Sergey Kuznetsov, head of the company’s scientific and technical information department, refused to comment on the status of these reported plans.
However, the Kazan National Research Technical University (KNITU) has confirmed that it is working on a design for an aircraft that would offer range of around 620 miles (1,000 km) and cruise speeds of up to around 87 mph (140 km/h). According to KNITU rector Albert Gilmutdinov, the aircraft would be well suited to a variety of civil applications, including supporting the energy industry. By the end of 2020, KNITU hopes to have reached an agreement with a manufacturing partner for this aircraft.
Meanwhile, Ulyanovsk-based company PromServis is working with Russia’s Foundation for Advanced Research on what appears to be a fixed-wing aircraft with very short takeoff and landing capability. A spokesman for PromServis told FutureFlight that this aircraft will have a range of around 620 miles (1,000 km) and operate at speeds of up to around 196 mph (315 km/h). Its payload is projected to be around 1,100 pounds (500 kg).
Given the projected range of these aircraft, it seems likely that hybrid-electric propulsion systems will be used. The KNITU aircraft is intended to have a pilot on board, while the proposed Yakovlev design seems to be intended for autonomous operations.
However, not everyone in the Russian aviation sector is convinced by the case for new generation eVTOL aircraft. Oleg Panteleev, head of analysis at the Aviaport consultancy, believes helicopters will continue to dominate in this market segment in years to come. “The niche of off-aerodrome-based aircraft in Russia is currently occupied by helicopters. At present designers are exploring the possibility of increasing the cruising speed of helicopters, while also paying attention to [possibilities for] commercial tiltrotor planes,” he told FutureFlight.
Aviation expert Oleg Ivanov also expressed skepticism. “Among the major disadvantages of the use of such aircraft for the needs of civil aviation are high requirements for piloting techniques and crew qualifications, short range, high fuel consumption, as well the design and maintenance complexity,’” he commented. “In addition, safety issues also raise a lot of questions. According to experience in military aviation, the number of accidents with VTOL aircraft, due to the design and complexity of their piloting, is very high.”
Ivanov also expressed doubts about prospects for new tiltrotor aircraft seeking to bridge the gap between fixed-wing and rotorcraft designs. He argued that safety issues with Bell’s V-22 Osprey and the long campaign to develop Leonardo’s AW609 aircraft do not bode well for significant progress in this field.
