What is Russian Helicopters taking to Airshow China 2016? What are the expectations from the show?
Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Russia’s state technology holding Rostec, sees China as a major partner and expects to strike major deals at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition to be held on November 1-6 in Zhuhai, Guandong.
Russian Helicopters is presenting several models that the company hopes will attract substantial interest among prospective buyers.
The Mi-171A2 is the most recent version of the medium twin-turbine helicopter Mi-171, which combines the unique experience of the Mi-8/Mi-17 series with cutting-edge technological solutions.
The high-performance heavy-lift Ka-32A11BC is mostly intended for fire extinguishing and emergency relief operations, as well as construction works in difficult conditions.
Mass production of the Mi-26T2, a new version of the iconic helicopter, was launched in 2015. The cabin crew was reduced from five to three, bringing down operational costs, while the helicopter is equipped with cutting-edge avionics.
Ansat, a light multi-purpose helicopter developed by the Kazan Helicopter Plant, part of the Russian Helicopters group, recently obtained versions with a medical module and a VIP cabin.
Russian Helicopters will also present the Mi-171 equipped with a VK2500 engine and the military helicopter Kamov K-52K.
Why is the Chinese market important for Russian Helicopters?
Russian Helicopters has a long history with China, which the company is interested in taking to new levels. Russian-made helicopters have been supplied to China starting from the first mass-manufactured model Mil Mi-1 back in the middle of the 20th century. A later Mil model, Mi-4, was manufactured in China under license as Harbin Z-5 by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. Apart from those two models, heavy-lift Mi-6 were in use in China, later replaced by the Mi-26TS.
Currently, China’s state-run and private companies operate four Mi-26TS helicopters and more than 350 Mi-8, Mi-17 and Mi-171 helicopters, as well of 13 Kamov Ka-32A11BC machines. The list of operators includes Qingdao Helicopter, Flying Dragon, CITIC, State Oceanic Administration of China, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Ordos Public Security Bureau, Shandong General Aviation Services Co. and Jiangsu Huayu General Aviation Company.
In 2014 alone, Russian Helicopters delivered 84 Мi-171Е machines to Chinese buyers. Meanwhile, seven Ka-32A11BC helicopters are to be delivered to their buyers in China shortly. “The most popular Russian helicopter models in Russia are undoubtedly the series Mi-8/Mi-17,” says Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev. “Mi-171 machines are successfully operated on the entire territory of China, particularly in regions with difficult terrains and harsh climate conditions.”
According to Mikheev, those machines transport various types of cargo, including medical supplies, humanitarian aid and construction materials, and are also used for emergency relief operations. Mi-8/17 and Mi-26TS were used for relief operations in the wake of earthquakes in Sichuan province in 2008 and 2013. “Only thanks to the helicopters, it was possible to speedily deliver military and emergency personnel, heavy construction machinery, equipment and materials to affected areas, and evacuate large numbers of injured people,” says Mikheev.
What other projects are being implemented?
Collaboration between Russia and China in the helicopter segment is not limited to supplies of Russian helicopters. Currently, the two countries are working on implementing plans to jointly develop a heavy civilian helicopter under an inter-government agreement signed by President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. “Russian Helicopters’ investment in the project will come in the form of technology, and the company will also develop a technical offer for some of the systems,” says Mikheev.
“The Chinese side is expected to generally organize and execute the programme, including the design, creation of prototypes, testing, certification, preparation and launch of mass production, as well as promotion of the helicopter to the market and overall coordination,” he adds.
What other aspects of cooperation are important?
Another important direction for Russian Helicopters is their service center program abroad, which would allow to repair helicopters throughout their lifecycle. Last February, Russian Helicopters signed a framework agreement with Chinese companies «AVIC International Holding Corporation» and «CITIC Offshore Helicopter Corporation» (COHC) to create a maintenance and repair center for Russian-made helicopters in China.
Taking into consideration the fleet of Russian-built helicopters operating in China, a whole network of helicopter service centers is being planned in China, which would specialize in maintenance of civil and military helicopters, particularly of the “Mi” and “Ka” series. Apart from the technical center in Shenzhen, the Chinese side showed interest in organizing authorized maintenance and repair centers in Shanghai, which would be based at the Haiying automotive repair factory, and at Chengdu, at the Jingjiang factory.
