Composite Helicopter Tail Rotor Blade Manufacturing

A Ukrainian aviation engineering and manufacturing company with experience in the repair, modernization, and production of aircraft components.

The company has a certified production base, qualified personnel, engineering and technological expertise, as well as experience in implementing complex manufacturing projects for government, civilian, and industrial customers.

The company is developing its capabilities in the manufacture of composite products, including aviation components made of fiberglass and carbon fiber, tooling, molds, master models, and other complex composite products. A key advantage is the integration of aviation expertise, composite manufacturing, metalworking, engineering design, and quality control within a single production platform.

Project Overview

The project provides for the completion of development, required testing, preparation for serial production, and subsequent launch of composite tail rotor blade manufacturing for Mi-family helicopters.

The objective of the project is to establish local production in Ukraine of a critical aviation component that can be used to maintain the operational airworthiness of helicopter fleets. The composite blade is being developed as a modern alternative to traditional metal blades while maintaining the required compatibility with existing aircraft and established maintenance procedures.

The composite tail rotor blade development project is being implemented by the company’s team of engineers and technologists, who have many years of experience in aircraft design and repair, composite manufacturing, engineering development, and management of innovative projects.

The project team currently consists of 12 specialists.

Problem Addressed by the Project

Ukraine’s aviation industry requires local production of sophisticated aircraft components that previously depended on external suppliers. Amid the war, disrupted logistics chains, and restricted access to traditional supply sources, localization of production has become critically important.

The project is aimed at reducing import dependence, increasing supply chain resilience, developing Ukrainian manufacturing capabilities, and creating high value-added products.

The potential target markets primarily include Ukraine, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, where Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mi-24 helicopters remain in operation.

Product Advantages

• reduced product weight and improved operating characteristics;
• corrosion resistance and potential for extended service life;
• lower maintenance costs;
• localization of production in Ukraine and reduced dependence on imported components;
• development of Ukrainian expertise in the production of sophisticated composite aviation components.

Current Status

The project has a practical manufacturing and engineering foundation. The company already has the experience, equipment, team, and technological expertise required to implement the project.

A significant portion of the preparatory work has already been completed, including the development of design solutions, material selection, development of technological approaches, and preparation for the next stages of testing and production implementation. The project is currently transitioning from engineering development to completion of the testing cycle, preparation for serial production, and subsequent market launch.

Expected Results

• establishment of composite tail rotor blade production in Ukraine;
• preparation for serial production of a high value-added aviation component;
• reduced dependence on imported components;
• preservation and further development of engineering capabilities and creation of new jobs.

Investment Attractiveness

The project combines genuine market demand, an existing production base, an experienced team, and scalability potential. The company is not starting production from scratch; the investment will be directed toward specific production stages: completion of testing, preparation for serial production, and market launch.

Key Project Indicators:

• planned annual sales after reaching serial production — more than USD 2 million;
• gross margin — over 35%;
• projected investment payback period — 4 years;
• projected IRR — 22–28%;
• projected project NPV over 10 years — more than USD 3 million.

The project is focused on establishing a long-term, highly profitable aviation component manufacturing business with the potential to scale into other types of blades and composite components for rotorcraft.

Investment Proposal

Required investment to complete development: up to USD 1 million.

The funding is planned to be allocated to:

• upgrading and expanding the production base;
• manufacturing tooling, molds, and master models;
• purchasing composite materials and producing prototypes;
• conducting the required testing and preparing for serial production;
• strengthening the engineering and production team and developing the quality control system.

The company is open to investment financing, strategic partnership, manufacturing cooperation, debt or donor financing, as well as joint implementation of individual project stages.

The preferred form of cooperation is investor participation in financing the creation of intellectual property and production documentation.

The investor is offered a share in the licensing rights to the production technology and royalty income from product sales or licensing the technology to third parties.

Options involving the establishment of a joint venture, a licensing agreement, or an exclusive strategic partnership are also being considered.

Project Exit Opportunities

The primary investment return model is based on the investor receiving a share of licensing payments (royalties) generated from:

• sales of serially manufactured products;
• granting production licenses;
• international technology agreements;
• extension of the technology to other types of aviation components.

Over a five-year horizon, the value of the intellectual property and technological platform created under the project is projected to increase by 4–6 times compared with the initial investment amount.

The timeline for the main development stages, taking into account the results already achieved, as well as the detailed budget and technical and economic indicators of the project, will be provided after signing an NDA and completing the identification procedure.