Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, has delivered two multirole commercial Ka-32A11BC helicopters to Sino-Russian Helicopter Technology Company, based in Qingdao, China. The Ka-32A11BCs were built by Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, part of Russian Helicopters.

The helicopters will be operated for commercial purposes by Citic General Aviation. A contract for 20 helicopters for Sino-Russian Helicopter Technology Company was signed in 2011, and the first two helicopters have already been delivered and are now operating successfully in China. Another four Ka-32A11BCs are planned for delivery by the end of the year under the contract.

“The Ka-32A11BC is one of the best helicopters in its class. It holds Chinese type certification and has great potential for markets in this region, where demand for all-round helicopters is continuing to grow,” said Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO for Sales and Marketing Grigory Kozlov.

The helicopter is superbly suited to China’s mountain ranges and booming cities thanks to its unique coaxial rotor system, which allows it to land and take off in tight and unprepared spaces, and to manoeuvre in both mountainous terrain and heavily built-up cityscapes. The Ka-32A11BC has been designed to fly search-and-rescue missions, fight fires and evacuate sick and wounded people. It is also widely used for high-rise construction work, cargo transportation on an external sling and to support logging operations.

The fleet of Ka-32A11BCs in China is expanding rapidly as demand increases. Earlier this year a Ka-32A11BC belonging to the Chinese State Oceanic Administration was at the centre of global media attention as it played a key role in rescuing passengers from the Academician Shokalsky research vessel after the ship became trapped in Antarctic sea ice.

In addition to China, the Ka-32A11BC holds type certification in the EU, as well as Chile, Mexico, South Korea, Canada, Australia and other countries. Ka-32 type helicopters successfully operate in various modifications in Spain, Portugal, Columbia, Switzerland, Japan, China, Brazil and Taiwan. To date more than 140 of these helicopters have been built, and around half operate outside Russia.

Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise is a Russian Helicopters company and the largest industrial enterprise in Kumertau, manufacturing high-tech equipment for helicopters and other purposes. KumAPP specialises in coaxial rotor system helicopters. It produces all the Ka-27 and Ka-31 models used by the Russian Navy, as well as the civilian multirole Ka-32A11BC and the new Ka-226 and Ka-226T.

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 aftersale 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 2013 its IFRS revenues increased 10% to RUB 138.3 billion. Deliveries reached 275 helicopters.

UIC Oboronprom, JSC is a multi-profile industrial and investment group established in 2002. It is a part of Russian Technologies State Corporation. Its main tasks include: helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters, JSC) and engine-building (United Engine Industry Corporation managing company).

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.