Maksimov Ma-22
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| Ma-22 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Tactical transport helicopter |
| National origin |  Nikolia
|
| Manufacturer | Maksimov Helicopters |
| Designer | Maksimov Design Bureau |
| First flight | 2001 |
| Introduction | 2008 |
| Status | In service, in production |
| Primary users | Nikolian Royal Air Force Aquitaynian Navy Aquitaynian Foreign Legion Royal Armadas of the Sidereal Crown |
| Unit cost |
35 million NĐ (40 million NSD)
|
The Maksimov Ma-22 is medium-sized, twin-engine, long range tactical transport helicopter developed by Nikolian helicopter manufacturer Maksimov Helicopters. It is an answer to requests from the Nikolian Royal Air Force for a transport helicopter that could be used in battlefield and in naval enviroments. It can carry up to 29 seated troops along with with two crew, depending on the customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for troop transport, casualty evacuation, and combat search and rescue duties, and is similar to the civilian Ma-25.
The Ma-22 is the first helicopter to feature entirely fly by wire flight controls. There are two basic variants of this aircraft; the Tactical Transport version for Army use and the navalised version for sea operations. Due to the modularity of the Ma-22, customers are able to make customisations to their Ma-22 fleet; type of sensors, weapons or cabin arrangements.
Development
The Ma-22 is developed to meet the Nikolian Royal Air Force requirements for a tactical transport helicopter with three primary roles: Search & Rescue operations, tactical combat transport and naval operations. Following the rejection of the first proposed aircraft for this role, the Ma-19, Maksimov design bureau started working on a new aircraft being guided by the requirements from the Royal Air Force. The new helicopter had to achieve greater speeds, higher rate of climb, greater range, superior maneuverability and better flight controls. In 1998, a new design was presented to the Royal Air Force officials. The design was authorised and the new Ma-22 had its maiden flight in 2001 at Maksimov plant in Katovice.
Design
The Ma-22 is one of the newer products of Maksimov Helicopters plant, thus incorporating the most advanced flight systems and electronics currently available. Its main rotor has five composite blades incorporating a new airfoil shape to reduce vibration and noise levels. The helicopter body can be fitted with removable aditional armor plates protecting the crew and is powered by two FMK-712-HM turboshaft engines mounted over the cabin, which feature a dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. It also features all-glass cockpit which is equipped with an integrated display system consisting of six Active-matrix liquid-crystal displays. The aircraft is also equipped with advanced search and weather radars as well as Forward looking infrared (FLIR), which makes it a very capable aircraft for search and rescue operations during the day or night, in all weather conditions. The Ma-22 can be upgraded with various military equipment and armaments, such as a pair of 7.92mm PM-1 machine guns mounted within forward left and right windows, or four 68mm side-mounted missile launchers, or a pair of aerial-launched torpedoes. The Ma-22 is equipped with integrated advanced protection system consisted of two parts: IR flares and chaffs and electronic countermeasures.
Maksimov Helicopters developed four primary cabin configurations for the type. The Troop Transport version contains a seating arrangement for a maximum of 29 troops, in addition to the crew. A dedicated VIP transport version is designed to contain between 8 to 12 passengers. The Casualty Evacuation version can carry up to 12 stretchers along with a total of four seated medical staff. The Combat SAR configuration is fully equipped to perform search and rescue duties in a combat environment.
Operators
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2 (pilot + co-pilot)
- Capacity: 1 chief of stick + 28 troops or 5,670 kilograms (12,500 lb)* payload
- Length: 19.5 m (64 ft 0 in)
- Height: 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
- Empty weight: 5,330 kg (11,751 lb)
- Gross weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 11,200 kg (24,692 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × FMK-712-HM turboshaft, 2,087 kW (2,799 hp) each
- Main rotor diameter: 16.20 m (53 ft 2 in)
- Main rotor area: 206.1 m2 (2,218 sq ft)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 330 km/h (205 mph; 178 kn)
- Cruise speed: 290 km/h (180 mph; 157 kn)
- Range: 857 km (533 mi; 463 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 6,095 m (19,997 ft)
- Rate of climb: 9 m/s (1,800 ft/min)
- Disk loading: 41 kg/m2 (8.4 lb/sq ft)