Company News

08.09.2009

MOSCOW – RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS BROADENS PRESENCE IN INDIA

Moscow, 8 September 2009 - India is a traditionally high-priority market for the Russian helicopter industry. Russian Helicopters, JSC, as the managing body of the Russian helicopter enterprises within its framework, is broadening its global presence by moving its products to new markets and increasing sales on traditional ones. India is one of the latter, and demand is kept up by improving aftersale service. Russian Helicopters is focussed on cooperating with Indian customers and operators – local private companies and state institutions.

Russia and India have strong and tested ties in dealing with helicopters, spare parts, equipment, and also aftersale service. India is one of these markets where servicing our helicopters is becoming more and more legitimate through partnership with local companies.

Russian Helicopters is shifting from offering just the helicopters to selling the entire bundle of helicopters plus lifetime support and service. The global service network, based on authorised MRO centres, is being created in line with this initiative. India is an indispensable part of this network: Russian Helicopters and Global Vectra Group have jointly established Integrated Helicopter Services Pvt. Ltd. to service Russian-made rotorcraft and supply parts and equipment.

“It is very important that Russian Helicopters is the only company to officially supply India with Russian-made civil helicopters,” Andrei Shibitov, CEO, Russian Helicopters, stresses. “Only companies who have been expressly authorised in writing to do so by Russian Helicopters may market Russian helicopter goods and services in India. Keeping in mind the rapid expansion of the Russian-Indian economic cooperation, we are hoping to see a broadening partnership with the Indian side on authorised service and maintenance of Russian-made helicopters.”

As of today, Russian-made helicopters form the core of the Indian Air Force: Today it operates 20 Mi-25 (the export variant of Mi-24D), 39 Mi-35, 10 Mi-26, 50 Mi-8, and 100 Mi-17 helicopters. Late in 2008 the Indian Ministry of Defence signed a contract on the delivery in 2010-2014 of 80 transport Mi-17V-5 to the IAF. Russian Helicopters delivers military rotorcraft through FSUE Rosoboronexport.

Private Indian companies (Jagson Airlines Ltd., Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd., Mesco Airlines, etc.) operate 6 Mi-172 helicopters. Russian Helicopters forecasts new orders from commercial operators in India: the Ka-226/Ka-226T, Ka-32A11BC, and Ansat helicopters are nearing certification and should boost additional interest.

The Ka-226T is already taking part in an Indian tender for the delivery of 197 light helicopters. The first flight of its greatly modernised variant is expected in September 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 and Helicopter Service Company (VSK).

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 100 billion roubles in 2008.