Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland Start Building Joint Civil AW139 Final Assembly Line Plant

“We have been building a remarkable industrial base in Russia in recent years by establishing major collaborations with prime local companies in various fields of the civil sector.” Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Finmeccanica, said. “This latest landmark provides clear evidence of our commitment to playing an increasing role in the region by the mean of a mutually beneficial industrial cooperation, particularly in the civil rotorcraft sector.”

Giuseppe Orsi, Chief Executive Officer of AgustaWestland added “It gives us great pleasure to be here with our Russian partners both concretely and symbolically laying the foundations of what we are confident will be a bright future of industrial cooperation based on the world best selling AW139. This model has been identified and selected by the Russian industry as the benchmark helicopter in its category to meet a variety of demanding requirements in the Russian and CIS civil markets.”

AW139 – a medium twin helicopter of 6400kg take-off weight, is capable to carry up to 15 passengers. It is used as a corporate-transport and VIP helicopter as well as for offshore, in emergency situations, for rescue and fire-fighting operations.

Finmeccanica plays a leading role in the global aerospace and defence industry, and participates in some of the sector’s biggest international programmes through its group companies and well-established alliances with European and US partners. A leader in the design and manufacture of helicopters, defence and security electronics, civil and military aircraft, aerostructures, satellites, space infrastructure, defence systems, transport and energy sectors Finmeccanica is Italy’s leading high-tech company.

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is a major force in commercial and military helicopter markets around the world and offers an unrivalled range of helicopters, training and support solutions to satisfy customer's mission requirements. AgustaWestland's main facilities are located in Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Russian Technologies State Corporation, created in November 2007, is designed to assist Russian organisations-developers and manufacturers of high technology industrial products in their development, production and exports, by providing support in domestic and foreign markets and attracting investments to different industries, to raise the level of Russian products, lower their cost and production time. UIC Oboronprom, RusSpetsStal, VSMPO-AVISMA, AVTOVAZ and other structures are a part of Russian Technologies.

UIC OBORONPROM, JSC is a multi-profile industrial and investment group established in 2002. Its main tasks include helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters managing company), engine-building (United Engine Industry Corporation managing company), air defense systems and complex electronic systems (Defense Systems holding company), and other machine-building activities. The companies of the group reported revenues of over 130 billion roubles in 2009.

Russian Helicopters, JSC is an affiliated company of UIC Oboronprom. It is the managing body of the following helicopter industry enterprises: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopters, Rostvertol, Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, Vpered Moscow Machine-Building Plant, Stupino Machine Production Plant, Reductor-PM , Helicopter Service Company (VSK) and Novosibirsk Aircraft Repairing Plant.