Radioelectronic Technologies Concern (KRET, part of Rostec State Corporation) has started equipping Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopters with the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS). This is the first time SINS is installed on an indigenous helicopter. The new system will allow the helicopters to navigate and perform tasks under extreme conditions of the Far North, KRET’s press-service reports.

“This year the company is going to deliver 120 systems for all types of aircraft, including Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopters. However, by 2020 KRET plans to manufacture 1500 systems per year. Currently, KRET is implementing an investment project for starting mass production of strapdown inertial navigation systems. This is a unique project for Russia and it is aimed at meeting the needs for SINS systems in aviation and ground vehicles segments. The total project value is 14,5 billion rubles,” the company noted.

The SINS system produced by KRET is as good as its foreign counterparts in terms of performance and it has a longer guaranteed service life compared to majority of foreign analogues (at least 50,000 hours). The SINS system is suited for operation under conditions of low temperatures, high radiation, and absence of satellite signals or communications with ground services. The SINS operating temperature range is from -60 to +55 degrees, with an extreme range from -70 to +85 degrees Celsius.

Moscow Institute of Electromechanics and Automatics (MIEA, part of KRET) developed the SINS system comprisinglaser gyroscopes. So far SINS SP-1 and SINS SP-2 systems have been successfully customized to meet the needs of civil and military aviation as well as special-purpose aircraft, KRET added.

“SINS ensures stand-alone high-precision navigation in the Arctic Region under conditions where other traditional navigation systems (magnetic, radio, astronavigation and mechanical navigation systems) cannot function. State-of-the-art reliable laser inertial navigation system will allow pilots to always be able to define their location and set the course even in case of failure of some electronics. Our SINS ensures safe piloting,” KRET’s press-service added.