Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, AgustaWestland (a Finmeccanica company) and Turbomeca (Safran) have agreed to continue working together on core joint projects. The agreements were reached during a visit by a Russian Helicopters delegation headed by CEO Alexander Mikheev to AgustaWestland and Turbomeca’s respective production facilities in Italy and France.

“Production of advanced high-tech helicopters has long been a truly global industry,” Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev said. “Our goal of creating a modern, competitive and fast-growing helicopter sector demands active international engagement. Working closely with partners such as AgustaWestland and Turbomeca and other sector leaders helps us to improve the quality of our product and strengthen our position on the global market.”

Alexander Mikheev this month led a Russian Helicopters delegation to AgustaWestland’s headquarters at Cascina Costa di Samarate, where a meeting was held with Daniele Romiti, CEO of the Italian company, to discuss current projects and the potential for future collaborations. The companies are already successfully working together on assembling the AW139 in Russia at HeliVert, a joint venture at the National Helicopter Development Centre in Tomilino near Moscow. Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland are also working on the creation of a new 2.5-tonne class single-engine helicopter.

Daniele Romiti, CEO of AgustaWestland, said: “Hosting Alexander Mikheev at AgustaWestland was a valuable chance to introduce him to a range of distinguished capabilities, offering him a unique, comprehensive insight of the company and an extensive opportunity to discuss about our current joint plans. We are confident this visit will further reinforce the already strong perception at Russian Helicopters of AgustaWestland as a highly competitive, reliable industrial partner to meet new business opportunities in the future, leveraging on what we’ve been able to build together in recent years.”

The Russian delegation visited AgustaWestland’s Transmission Centre of Excellence, Avionics Aviation and Experimental Operations, as well as the final assembly line at Vergiate. The delegation also visited the Training Academy base in Sesto Calende for a briefing on the Italian company’s experience of pilot training. Russian Helicopters is creating its own helicopter academy at the National Helicopter Development Centre in Tomilino using the latest training techniques and international methods.

Russian Helicopters representatives also visited the headquarters of another key partner, Turbomeca, in Bordes, near Pau in south-west France. Alexander Mikheev and the Russian delegation met with Turbomeca CEO Oliver Andries and other members of the senior management team to discuss current joint projects and prospects for expanding collaboration in future. They also visited Turbomeca’s production facilities, where they were briefed on the latest technologies in serial production of modern aerospace engines.

During the visit Turbomeca CEO Olivier Andries said: “Turbomeca is proud to be on-board the Ka-226T and Ka-62 helicopters. These two projects are very important for us because we believe they could play a major role on their respective markets. Working together on the Ka-226T and Ka-62 paves the way for future opportunities on other platforms.”

Russian Helicopters and Turbomeca are continuing to expand their collaboration. One important landmark in August 2013 was the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at establishing a new maintenance centre for Ka-226T and Ka-62 engines in Russia. Under the agreement Russian Helicopters will provide Level 1 and 2 maintenance on Turbomeca engines flown by Russian military and state-owned helicopter operators. The agreement covers Arrius 2G1 and Ardiden 3G engines, which are used on the Ka-226T and Ka-62, respectively.

The visit to key international partners is the latest step in Russian Helicopters’ policy of deepening the integration of Russia’s helicopter industry into the global economy. The company aims to accommodate the requirements of customers fr om dozens of countries around the world wh ere Russian-built helicopters are delivered. Modern Russian helicopters are fitted with components and systems produced using the latest technologies and to the highest global quality standards.

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is a major force in commercial and military helicopter markets around the world and offers an unrivalled range of helicopters, training and support solutions to satisfy customer’s mission requirements. AgustaWestland’s main facilities are located in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the United States of America.

Turbomeca (Safran) is a leading helicopter engine manufacturer, and has produced 70,000 turbines since the company was founded. Offering the widest range of engines in the world and dedicated to 2,500 customers in 155 countries, Turbomeca provides a proximity service thanks to its 17 sites, 28 Certified Maintenance Centers, 18 Repair & Overhaul Centers, and 90 Field representatives and Field technicians. Microturbo, the subsidiary of Turbomeca, is the European leader in turbojet engines for missiles, drones and auxiliary power units. For more information: www.turbomeca.com and www.safran-group.com.

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 after-sales 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 2012 its IFRS revenues increased 21% to RUB 125,7billion. Deliveries reached 290 helicopters.

OBORONPROM Corporation is a multi-profile industrial and investment group, a part of Russian Technologies State Corporation. Its main tasks include: helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters) and engine-building (United Engine Corporation).

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.