Speaking at the Russian Hour conference at last week’s Heli-Expo 2014 in Anaheim, California, representatives of Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, and commercial aviation firms UTair
, PANH Helicopters and Ukrainian Helicopters discussed their positive experience of cooperation in this area.
“The extensive use of Russian-made helicopters in UN missions is further testimony to the unique capabilities of our technology. Russian helicopters are unmatched on humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. I am confident that the new technologies we are currently working to develop will also become effective instruments for UN missions,” Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev said.
“UTair helicopters have played an active role in air transport support for UN missions since the early 1990s. The helicopters are ideally suited to a diverse range of operations, from UN support missions, passenger transport, observation and monitoring, SAR and medevac operations, and support for special police units,” UTair Helicopter Services President Alexei Vinogradov said.
“Our helicopters are operated under UN contracts in the most challenging climates, in places where there is a wide temperature range, in dust storms and heavy downpours, in mountainous terrain, and landing on unprepared ground,” First Deputy General Director of PANH Helicopters Alexei Skorikov said.
Today a wide range of Russian-made helicopter models carry out UN missions. They include those in the Mi-8/17 family, the world's heaviest-lifting Mi-26(T), and multirole Ka-32 type helicopters. They take part in UN missions in a range of climates and environments across the world, from Afghanistan, South Sudan, Somalia, East Timor and countries across Africa. D
During the conference, Russian Helicopters also unveiled new developments that incorporate the latest technologies and build on experience using helicopters on UN missions. Russian Hour participants had the opportunity to hear about new helicopters, such as the medium multirole Mi-171A2 and transport and passenger Mi-38.
The Mi-171A2 was developed at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant on the basis of the legendary Mi-8/17 series. The latest technologies and solutions are incorporated into its development, which takes into account the needs of operators and potential customers of the Mi-8/17 series. The Mi-171A2 features enhanced propulsion systems, upgraded main rotor and gear systems, and advanced avionics.
