During the international military technology forum Army-2015 on 16 June 2015, Russian Helicopters (part of State Corporation Rostec) announced that a contract has been signed with the Belarusian Defence Ministry for delivery of 12 Russian-made Mi-8MTV-5 military transport helicopters over 2016-2017.

“The Republic of Belarus is an important partner for Russia in military technical cooperation,” Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev said. “Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters help enhance the Union State’s defences and expands its military capability. The signing of this contract is another step toward strengthening the friendship and business relations between our two countries.”

The contract will be enacted in accordance with the agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus on the development of military technical cooperation dated 10 December 2009, and in particular the helicopters will be delivered on the same terms and in the same configuration as for Russia’s own armed forces.

The Mi-8MTV-5 military transport helicopters are produced at Kazan Helicopters (a Russian Helicopters company). They are designed to carry out a wide range of operations: both military and transport missions. The helicopters are equipped with the latest avionics, radio communications and specialized hardware.

Over their many years of operation, the Mi-8/17 have proved their ability to successfully perform their operational tasks in any climates and are rightly recognized as one of the best in their class.

Russian Helicopters, (part of State Corporation Rostec), is one of the global leaders in helicopter production and the only helicopter design and production powerhouse in Russia. Russian Helicopters was founded in 2007 and 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 after sale 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. In 2014 its IFRS revenues increased 22,8% to RUB 169,8 billion. Deliveries reached 271 helicopters.

State Corporation Rostec is a Russian corporation founded in 2007 for the purpose of promoting the development, production and export of hi-tech civilian and military industry products. It comprises 700 organisations, nine of which have now been formed as holding companies of the military-industrial complex, five of them are involved in civil industries and 22 are directly controlled. Rostec’s portfolio includes recognized brands such as Avtovaz, Kamaz, Russian Helicopters, and VSMPO-AVISMA. Rostec’s organizations are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply their products to the markets of more than 70 countries. The revenue of Rostec in 2013 amounted to RUB 1.04 trillion. The tax deductions into the treasuries at all levels exceeded RUB 138 billion.