Airshow China 2016: Russian Helicopters to Sell 18 Choppers to China

Nov 01, 2016 08:49 PM EDT

In this handout image supplied by Host photo agency / RIA Novosti, Ka-27PL helicopters during a rehearsal of the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War, May 7, 2015 in Baltiysk, Russia.

(Photo : Getty Images) In this handout image supplied by Host photo agency / RIA Novosti, Ka-27PL helicopters during a rehearsal of the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War, May 7, 2015 in Baltiysk, Russia.

Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary unit of Russia's state technology holding Rostec, has closed a deal with China, selling at least 18 helicopters including Mi-171s, Ka-32s, and Ansat.

Russian Helicopters revealed that China availed two of its light Ansat medevac helicopters, two Mi-171s, and one Ka-32 with an option of 13 more aircraft, the company said on Tuesday during the signing ceremony between Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO Alexander Shcherbinin and the president of Wuhan Rand Aviation Technology Service Co. Ltd. at the sidelines of Airshow China 2016, according to Sputnik News.

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The first helicopters will reportedly arrive in 2017, while the remaining are expected by the end of 2018, RT reported.

"At the moment, there are more than 300 Russian helicopters of various type in China. We hope to attract interest from Chinese airlines with the first contract of Ansat helicopters," Alexander Mikheev, Russian Helicopters' CEO, said.

The Mi-171A2 is the company's most recent release of the medium twin-turbine helicopter Mi-171. The Ka-32A11BC is designed for fire extinguishing, emergency relief operations, and construction works on challenging situations. And the Anset is a light multi-purpose helicopter and its recently obtained versions feature a medical module and VIP cabin, the Aviation Pros noted.

Meanwhile, Russia and China have also reportedly worked on implementing plans to jointly develop a heavy civilian helicopter under an inter-government agreement signed by both nations' leaders President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Under the deal, Russian Helicopters will invest its technology and develop technical offer, while China is tasked to organize and execute the program including designing; creating a prototype; and testing, obtaining certification, preparing, and launching for mass production, according to Aviation Pros.

TagsRussian Helicopters, helicopters, china, Wuhan Rand Aviation Technology Service, Rostec, Mi-171s, Ka-32s, Ansat, airshow china, China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition