Russian Helicopters and Turbomeca Sign Memorandum

Russian Helicopters, JSC, and Turbomeca have signed a memorandum on engine deliveries for the first Russian light turbine helicopter Sapsan (Mi-34S2) at MAKS airshow.

The memorandum was signed by Andrei Shibitov, CEO, Russian Helicopters and Maxime Faribault, Vice-President, Airframers Sales, Turbomeca. It will regulate engine deliveries for the first Russian FAR/JAR-27 turbine helicopter over the next five years.

The Sapsan helicopter was the centrepiece of the Russian Helicopters interior exposition and was officially presented on the opening day of MAKS. Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, Head of Russian Technologies State Corporation Sergey Chemezov, and other officials had a chance to assess the capabilities of the new helicopter at the airshow.

Sapsan's arrival is a statement to the policy of the Russian holding: to diversify its lineup to address market needs.

The range of modifications covers corporate, private, training, medevac, and surveillance uses - from eco-control and oil lines to employment with police forces.

Serial production will be based at Arsenyev Aviation Company Progress named after N. I. Sazykin, also manufacturing the Ka-50 Black Shark and Ka-52 Alligator helicopters. Manufacture of the piston Mi-34S1 has been resumed until the Sapsan goes into production in 2011.

Other enterprises within the framework of Russian Helicopters will do their share: Reduktor PM (main and tail gearboxes, transmission shafts), Stupino Machine-Building Industrial Enterprise (main and tail rotor heads, swash plate). Arsenyev Aviation Company Progress will construct the hull, main and tail rotor blades, and assemble the helicopters.

"We've really given this chopper a 'thorough shaking', and this was an ideological step," Andrei Shibitov, CEO, Russian Helicopters, remarked. "We now have a product with a very popular and reliable French turboshaft engine, boasting good specifications and economy. This gives our helicopter a new status, a new life."

The Sapsan uses the popular Arrius 2F by the French company Turbomeca, a reliable, long-life engine with well-established warranty and after-warranty service. This helps to diminish traditional market scepticism towards a new helicopter model.

"In terms of sales it's important that 80% of companies, according to statistical data, buy a new helicopter as a replacement for an old one. We've calculated that successful sales in the short term (2011-2015) will help Russian Helicopters assume a strong position on the market where the Mi-34 competes, and promote Russian-built rotorcraft in target regions in general," Dmitriy Rodin, Director of the "Resumption of Mi-34 Type Helicopter Serial Production" Initiative, Russian Helicopters, considers.