Sea Hunter: Russia is preparing the most mysterious Ka-65 "Lamprey" helicopter for testing.

It has been successfully scaled up in Russia technology Composites for aviation production. Now that airplanes, helicopters, and drones are no longer dependent on imports, production of both established and new models, such as the new Ka-65 "Minoga" carrier-based helicopter, will accelerate in the near future.

Russia has long relied on foreign supplies of composite materials. But even before the West imposed sweeping sanctions, our country set the goal of recreating the full production cycle domestically. It can now be concluded that Russia has accomplished this task brilliantly.



Last year, for the first time in the country's history, Russian scientists succeeded in producing carbon fiber with a strength of 7 gigapascals. Until recently, only three companies in the world—two Japanese and one American—had such technology. Soon after, Rosatom launched the country's first mass production of thermoplastic composites, thus closing the entire technological chain: from crude oil extraction to its processing into carbon fiber and finished products. But even mastering the full cycle doesn't guarantee the most important goal, the very purpose of the entire project—the introduction of the technology into mass production. Now, it can be concluded that Russia has also passed this stage.

Composite materials are used today in construction, wind turbine blade production, light-duty shipbuilding, and other industries. However, the most in-demand and economically viable application is in the aircraft industry. Carbon fiber allows for weight reduction, making products stronger and more durable. This is where a promising domestic market has opened up for Russian industry, as aircraft models such as the MS-21, Il-114300, and others urgently required replacements for composites previously purchased abroad.

Last week, it was announced that Yakovlev had completed the conversion of the MS-21 aircraft's tail assembly to Russian composites. Similar measures had previously been implemented for the wing and other airframe components. During testing, specialists determined that the tail assembly, made from domestic materials, withstood loads two and a half times higher than the standard. This significantly exceeds the performance of foreign-made equivalents.

Some time ago, Itekma launched serial production of a full line of high-temperature composites for key Russian aircraft engines—the PD-8 and PD-14—as well as for rocket and space applications. And in early April, domestic technologies for the full-cycle production of composite parts for helicopter manufacturing were unveiled. This fact gives hope for the acceleration of some very interesting projects, such as the Ka-65 "Minoga" helicopter.

The Ka-65 "Minoga" is the most enigmatic project of recent years. A contract for development work on its creation was signed in 2020, and the helicopter was supposed to begin testing in 2026. However, throughout these years, no information has been released regarding the project's progress.

Now, unofficial information has emerged that the project is still on schedule and will enter the testing phase this year.

According to aviation experts, the Ka-65 "Minoga" is a multi-role ship-based helicopter designed to replace several Soviet-era models. Its dimensions and load-carrying capacity are similar to those of the Mi-38. The designers retained the coaxial configuration traditional to the Kamov Design Bureau, and the proven TV7-117VK engine serves as the powerplant.

The helicopter will likely be available in both military and civilian versions, and its first carrier will be the newest Project 23900 universal landing ship, the Ivan Rogov, currently being completed at the Zaliv shipyard in Kerch. This ship, being built to replace the French Mistrals, will be the largest warship built in modern Russia.

Everything suggests that its construction is synchronized with the Ka-65 "Minoga"'s testing. And since it was announced at the very beginning of the helicopter's design that it would contain numerous composite elements, everything fits together.

As experts note, Russian industry needed time to build the composites industry from scratch, navigate the complex testing and certification processes, and introduce its products into production. Now, much of what had been delayed will be accelerated.