Russia to resume production of engines for the An-2

Russia will resume production of the Soviet TVD-10 aircraft engine for An-2 Kukuruznik aircraft.

Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, announced this.

Omsk is trying to modernize the An-2 aircraft by making it a turboprop.

As part of the modernization, it is proposed to install a TVD-10B engine on the aircraft.

The TVD-10B is a modification of the TVD-10 turboprop engine developed in 1965.

A sample of the Kukuruznyk with the TBD-10B engine is planned to be assembled this year.

“We have a project to resume production of TBD-10 engines. They can be used for the AN-2 and further for the modernization of these aircraft,” Anton Alikhanov claimed.

Prior to that, Russia was preparing a new VK-800 engine to replace the TBD-10, but the timing of its delivery is still unknown.

This prompted the Russian government to return to the old, time-tested Soviet TVD-10 piston engine for its An-2 aircraft, which is still in use in the military.

It is worth noting that in Poland, PZL-KALISZ produces ASz-62IR engines, which are used on conventional An-2s. Currently, the PZL-Kalisz plant is the only manufacturer of these engines in the world.

Since 1975, the plant has been producing ASz-62IR engines, repairing them, and exporting about 80% of engine components.

Russia is also developing equipment for the unmanned configuration of the An-2 aircraft. The work is being carried out by a branch of the Russian Institute of Aviation Instrumentation “Navigator.”