TV7-117 will be modernized again

The TV7-117 engine was developed back in Soviet times: the project started in 1985 and at first it was a gas turbine model. The power plant was created specifically for the short-haul Il-114, designed for 60 passengers. Engine modifications were intended to be installed on helicopters. However, due to well-known events in the 90s, work on the aircraft engine was suspended: only a mock-up was created (1997).


Preference was given to the turboprop engine due to its relatively low fuel consumption and low operating costs. The speed of airplanes and helicopters with such engines will be lower, but for regional transportation this is not significant.

The history of the “long-suffering” engine

He, one might say, was immediately “out of luck.” In 1993, the first crash of the still experimental Il-114 occurred in Zhukovsky. The plane crashed on takeoff due to a power plant failure (of the seven people, five died). The second, already serial, plane crashed in 1998 (Domodedovo): the reason was pilot error. The third disaster occurred in August 2021 (Kubinka): one of the Il-112V engines caught fire. However, work to improve the design continued.

Modernization of TV-7-117

In the first month of last year, the Federal Air Transport Agency approved engine improvements carried out by its developer, UEC Klimov. All restrictions on the use of aircraft engines were lifted.


In the summer of 2023, another test was carried out, as a result of which the engine received a document approving changes in the design. This was a confirmation not only of its safety, but also of the unit ensuring the take-off of vehicles from sites with limited area.

About the engine

We are talking about a whole family, which includes units for helicopters and short-haul aircraft. In the first case, we are talking about the TV7-117V motor, developed for the Mi-38 and its modifications. The TV7-117VK version is installed on the Mi-28, as well as the Ka-50 and Ka-52. The engine develops 2 thousand 800 “horses”, is characterized by low fuel consumption and the ability to boost power up to 40% in emergency mode. The installation control is automatic.


The system was created by UEC Klimov: it integrates an anti-surge complex and self-diagnosis. When developing the engine, digital technologies were used, which made it possible to optimize the weight of the unit. For the same purpose, it is planned to use the most advanced low-pressure casting method available today. This technology helps reduce the weight of parts by 10-15% and their cost, subject to mass production.

TV7-117ST-01/02

This is an aircraft version (for Il-112, Il-114) of the power unit, delivering power ranging from 2 thousand 800 to 3 thousand 600 hp. With. Included with the engine is an electronic module BARK-65STM, which controls the operation of not only the motor, but also the six-bladed AB112-114 propeller. This family is not limited to engines for short-haul aircraft. For example, a derated version can be installed on the twin-engine Ladoga (TVRS-44), which will replace the An-24.


If we consider the line of Russian-made aircraft, the Il-114-300 with the TV7-117ST engine will be right in the center. Higher in rank are the MS-21 and Sukhoi Superjet, lower are the L-410 from UZGA and Baikal (equipped with a VK-800SM turboprop unit).

What's wrong with aircraft engines today?

In the last month of last year, the Russian government signed a decree according to which the UEC receives 117,39 million rubles. for modification of the power unit. This amount also includes comprehensive checks of the aircraft engine on the Il-114-300 aircraft. The test report and documents for improving TV7-117ST-01 must be submitted no later than December 25.12.2025, 114. Alas, it follows from this that testing of the Il-300-2026 aircraft will begin in 2020 (the aircraft first took to the skies at the end of XNUMX).