Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, and Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET), also part of Rostec, have signed an agreement to establish a Helicopter Avionics Integration Centre (HAIC) to help boost the competitiveness of Russia's helicopter industry on the global market. The agreement was signed at HeliRussia 2014 by KRET CEO Nikolay Kolesov and Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev.
The core goal of the HAIC will be to develop and upgrade integrated on-board avionics for military, special-purpose and commercial helicopters built by Russian Helicopters. The centre will also serially produce avionics suites and provide support throughout the product life-cycle.
The centre will be designated a first-level integration enterprise (approximately equivalent to an OEM). Today's avionics are produced by integrating the individual components into a single unified "smart" system that controls the flight, weapons, engine and other on-board systems, as well as protecting the helicopter from external threats and ensuring pilot safety. The new HAIC will deliver a fully finished product to Russian Helicopters.
"KRET is Russia's largest developer and producer of helicopter avionics, and has been a long-term and reliable partner providing uninterrupted supplies of components and systems to Russian Helicopters," said Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev. "Establishing the HAIC marks a new chapter in our productive relationship that will reduce the number of suppliers of avionics equipment and reduce logistical costs."
"Russian Helicopters is one of our most important partners in Russia for advanced helicopter avionics," KRET CEO Nikolay Kolesov said. "Under this agreement we will provide a fully integrated product including lifetime support for the product from first designs to after-sales care. This will help us to extend and strengthen our leadership in this segment, in line with our strategic goals."
The HAIC is expected to significantly streamline cooperation on design and production between KRET and Russian Helicopters as part of a programme of further upgrades to current military and commercial helicopters and the creation of future models.
The agreement signed today between KRET and Russian Helicopters sets out the core organisational principles for creating the HAIC. In the near future the parties will form a working group that will include representatives of both sides and will start work on developing a business plan and timeline for the work that lies ahead.
Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (?RET) is Russia's largest instrument engineering centre for defence and civilian industries. It was established in 2009, and is part of the State Corporation Rostec. The company develops and produces avionics for commercial and military aircraft, electronic warfare (EW), Identification Friend or Foe systems (IFF), measuring equipment for various purposes (ME), electrical connectors and cable systems, various household appliances, and medical devices. The concern includes 97 organizations, located in 28 regions of the Russian Federation. The number of employees exceeds 66,000 people.
Russian Helicopters, JSC is a subsidiary of UIC Oboronprom, which in turn is a part of State Corporation Rostec. It is one of the global leaders in helicopter production and the only helicopter design and production powerhouse in Russia. Russian Helicopters is headquartered in Moscow. The company comprises five helicopter production facilities, two design bureaus, a spare parts production and repair facility, as well as an aftersale service branch responsible for maintenance and repair in Russia and all over the world. Its helicopters are popular among Russian ministries and state authorities (Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Emergency Control Ministry), operators (Gazpromavia, UTair), major Russian corporations. Over 8000 helicopters of Soviet/Russian make are operated in 110 countries worldwide. Traditionally the demand is highest in the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Russia, and CIS countries. Russian Helicopters was established in 2007. In 2013 its IFRS revenues increased 10% to RUB 138.3 billion. Deliveries reached 275 helicopters.
UIC Oboronprom, JSC is a multi-profile industrial and investment group established in 2002. It is a part of Russian Technologies State Corporation. Its main tasks include: helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters, JSC) and engine-building (United Engine Industry Corporation managing company).
Rostekhnologii State Corporation (Rostec) is a Russian corporation established in 2007 in order to facilitate the development, manufacturing and export of high-technology industrial products of military and civil purposes. Today it comprises over 663 companies, which form 8 military-industrial and 5 civil industry holdings. Rostec's subsidiaries are located in 60 regions of Russia and supply their products to over 70 countries worldwide. In 2012 revenues of the Corporation amounted to RUB 931 billion, net profits were RUB 38.5 billion and total taxation exceeded RUB 109 billion.
