Defence ministry to contracts supplies of 40 modernised Mi-8 helicopters

Russia’s Defence Ministry and the Vertolety Rossii /Russian Helicopters/ Holding Company signed a state contract on supplies of 40 modernised Mi-8AMTSH helicopters. The contract’s price is 12.6 billion roubles. Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov, who had signed the contract, said the ministry placed with the Holding Company orders to 2020. “The total amount of our contracts, together with the one signed today, makes almost 54 billion roubles,” he said. The Holding Company’s Director General Dmitry Petrov stressed the situation at the holding had changed over recent three years. “I believe we are about to have our relations work as precise as Swiss watches,” he said. The Mi-8AMTShhelicopter is a military transport helicopter developed from the Mi-8AMT helicopter. The helicopters can be equipped with guided missile systems (Shturm-V system), unguided missile systems, gun armament and are equipped for protective measures. The helicopter is meant for the transportation of 37 paratroopers, cargo up to 4000 kilograms, 12 injured on stretchers, for performing search and rescue missions (including CSAR). The helicopter can destroy armoured vehicles, weapon emplacements of “pillbox” and “bunker” types, surface targets, enemy troops under cover and other mobile and fixed targets. One of the distinctive features of the helicopter is that Ulan-Ude aviation plant employs aircraft technologies during its production. Russian Helicopters, JSC is an affiliated company of UIC Oboronprom. It is the managing body of the following helicopter industry enterprises: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopters, Rostvertol, Progress named after N.I. Sazykin, Arsenyev Aviation Company, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, Vpered Moscow Machine-Building Plant, Stupino Machine Production Plant, Reductor-PM , Novosibirsk Aircraft Repairing Plan, and Helicopter Service Company.