Russian Helicopters and Technodinamika (formerly the Aviation Equipment Group), both Rostec companies, and France’s Microturbo (part of the Safran group) have signed a trilateral memorandum on the joint development and production of a new auxiliary power unit (APU), Saphir 15, for the helicopter market. Under the memorandum, Russian Helicopters will become the first potential customer for the new APU. Technodinamika and Microturbo will jointly work to increase the range of potential customers for the Saphir 15 APU among companies in Russia and abroad.

The memorandum was signed by Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO Roman Chernyshev, CEO at Technodinamika Maxim Kuzyuk, and the head of Microturbo Pierre-Yves Morvan.

“Russian Helicopters is engaged in extensive cooperation with other companies in the sector on improving efficiency and developing new technologies,” said Deputy CEO of Russian Helicopters Roman Chernyshev. “This opens up new opportunities for the company. This cooperation creates new products and technologies, and reduces delays. This new auxiliary power unit will help diversify component supplies for our helicopters. Technodinamika has already proved itself to be a reliable supplier for Russian-made helicopters.”

“This joint project with Microturbo to build the new Saphir 15 power unit for Russian Helicopters is confirmation of the effective development and strengthening of our company’s business ties with partners abroad, even in this complex period for the Russian economy,” said CEO of Technodinamika Maxim Kuzyuk. “An estimated 30 million euros will be invested in the project to 2017. We are planning to sign a binding agreement on financing with our partners and financial institutions in the near future.”

The international agreement also covers future joint work to modernise the Saphir 15 auxiliary power unit. The joint product will be Interstate Aviation Committee Aviation Register (IAC AR) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified. Series production is scheduled to start in 2017. The Saphir 15 will be suitable for virtually all models of Mi- and Ka- helicopters.

“Russian Helicopters’ involvement in this project signifies the potential customers’ keen interest in this new product,” said Microturbo CEO Pierre-Yves Morvan. “By building cooperation with the world’s leading manufacturers in the aviation industry, we are aiming to conclude development and launch series production on the new product as early as 2017 – responding to customers’ growing demand.”

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

Microturbo – a French company, is a member of the Safran group and a subsidiary of Turbomeca that designs, develops, and manufactures low-power high-tech gas turbines. These high-tech, reliable solutions encompass a broad range of gas turbines and innovations that result from investment in Research and Development and strategic partnerships. Microturbo is the world’s leading company in its field, and has supplied over 13,000 power units to customers across the world.

Technodinamika specialises in the development, production and after-sales service for aircraft systems and aggregates. The company also produces components and aggregates for other sectors of the economy, such as oil and gas, the automotive industry, transport and the energy sector. Formerly known as the Aviation Equipment Group, it includes 35 enterprises across Russia: in Moscow, the Moscow Region, Ufa, Samara, Ulyanovsk, Omsk, the Arkhangelsk Region and other parts of the country. It is part of State Corporation Rostec. Its key partners and clients include United Aircraft Corporation, Russian Helicopters, United Engine Corporation, Russian Railways, as well as companies such as Aeroflot, Sibir, UTair, State Transport Company Rossiya.

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 recognised brands such as Avtovaz, Kamaz, Russian Helicopters, and VSMPO-AVISMA. Rostec’s organisations 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