Russian Helicopters bring Ansat and Mi-171A2 on a demonstration tour to Southeast Asia
Potential customers from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia had an opportunity to learn about the functionality of the brand new Мi-171A2 and Ansat helicopters during their tour through Southeast Asia. The demonstration flights started on November 16 and the tour concluded in December.
Мi-171A2 and Ansat helicopters finished their participation in Airshow China 2018, an international exhibition which took place in Zhuhai (China) on November 6-11. The helicopters were displayed statically, and demonstration flights were arranged as part of the airshow flight programme. After that both machines flew to Hanoi (Vietnam), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Pattaya (Thailand) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) where they commenced demonstration flights in the region.
“Following Airshow China, I noted that interest in Russian helicopters has increased significantly, especially after their participation in the exhibition’s flight programme. Russian Helicopters has reliable partner relationships with Southeast Asian countries, so we expect that the demonstration of Mi-171A2 and Ansat helicopters’ functionality will allow us not only to hold meaningful negotiations with potential customers, but also to sign soft contracts for these machines,” said Andrey Boginsky, CEO of Russian Helicopters.
He added that, generally, Southeast Asian operators highly appreciated helicopters made in Russia, especially for fire-fighting, as well as transport, building and assembly work in hard-to-reach areas.
Russian Helicopters has rapidly developed the service centre infrastructure in the region. Helitechco, a Russia-Vietnam joint venture, has been operating since 1994. It repaired over 80 civil helicopters of state and commercial customers from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, India, Australia and New Zealand. Helitechco is the only repair service in Southeast Asia where professionals from Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant monitor the repair processes.
In February 2018, a memorandum of intent was signed with a Thai company Datagate. Assistance on arranging a service centre for maintenance of Russian helicopters in Thailand is among areas of cooperation mentioned in the document. This centre is expected to provide with routine and repair operations, troubleshooting, and replacement of components. Additionally, parties determined a capacity for supply of replacement parts and repairing assemblies for civil helicopters under stand-alone contracts.
Ansat is a light twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter produced by Kazan Helicopters. According to the certificate, the helicopter design allows transforming it into a freight or passenger version suitable for transportation of up to seven people. High-altitude tests of Ansat have been successfully completed, which confirmed the possibility of its use in mountainous terrain at altitudes up to 3,500m. In August 2018, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) gave Kazan Helicopters an approval for the main change in increasing the capacity of several assemblies and systems of Ansat based on the results of certification, which makes the helicopter more attractive for operators and potential customers.
The helicopter equipped with the medical module can be used to administer first aid and evacuate patients even in difficult terrain and remote areas with lack of transport accessibility. Moreover, the Ansat medical module provides for patient resuscitation, intensive therapy and continuous monitoring of the injured persons’ vital functions during their transportation to hospital.
Mi-171A2 is the latest modification of Мi-8/17/171 helicopters. The helicopter is equipped with VK-2500PS-03 engines with a digital control system, as well as with more efficient X-shaped anti-torque rotor and an updated lifting rotor with composite blades and a refined airfoil section. The cruise and maximum speeds of the Mi-171A2 helicopter are 10 per cent higher and the payload capacity is 25 per cent greater than that of the mass-produced Mi-8/17 helicopter. The helicopter can be used successfully day and night, in high altitude, extreme temperatures, high humidity and over water.
Mi-171A2 is equipped with KBO-17 digital on-board glass cockpit equipment suite, including both the aircraft navigation system and the data display general helicopter equipment system, which allows it to reduce the crew up to two members. Video cameras improved the view while operating with external load. The safety level was increased due to using terrain awareness warning and collision warning systems.
The helicopter provides passenger transportation and is available in transport, passenger, and VIP versions.
JSC Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec State Corporation) is one of the world leaders in helicopter industry, the only developer and manufacturer of helicopters in Russia. The holding company was established in 2007. The head office is located in Moscow. The holding company is comprised of five helicopter plants, two design bureaus, enterprises for production and maintenance of components, aircraft repair plants and a service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. The buyers of the holding company’s products include the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazprom Avia and UTair airlines, as well as major Russian and foreign companies.
Rostec State Corporation is a Russian corporation that was established in 2007 to facilitate the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civilian and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organizations that are currently part of eleven holding companies operating in the military-industrial complex and four holding companies working in civilian industry, as well as over 80 directly managed organisations. Rostec’s portfolio includes well-known brands such as AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, Kalashnikov Concern, Russian Helicopters, VSMPO AVISMA, UralVagonZavod, etc. Rostec companies are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply products to more than 100 countries. In 2017, the consolidated revenue of Rostec reached RUB 1 trillion 589 billion rubles, while the consolidated net income and EBITDA amounted to 121 and 305 billion rubles respectively. In 2017 the average salary in the Corporation was 46,800 rubles. According to Rostec’s strategy, the main objective of the Corporation is to ensure that Russia has a technological advantage in highly competitive global markets. Rostec’s key objectives include the introduction of a new techno-economic paradigm and digitalization of Russian economy.