Russian Helicopters, which designs and manufactures civil and military rotorcraft, signed an agreement with Europe's AugustaWestland to jointly design and produce a new 2.5 ton-class single-engine helicopter at Britain's Farnborough air show on Tuesday.
If the deal goes ahead, it will be the first time a Russian and Western firm have ever jointly produced a new helicopter from scratch.
“We are pleased to be expanding our partnership with AugustaWestland to include the development of this new light helicopter," Russian Helicopters CEO Dmitry Petrov said after signing the agreement. "Cooperation with other global leaders represents an important component of our strategy as we continue developing new products to meet the constantly evolving demands of our customers around the world.”
The first model of the new civil helicopter will be made in 2015.
The design of the new light helicopter does not mean the company will stop production of other light helicopters such as the Kamov Ka-226 or Mi-34, Russian Helicopters spokesman Roman Kirillov told RIA Novosti on Monday, when news of the deal was first reported by RIA Novosti.
"The start of new projects does not mean they will replace current ones. We are widening our model range by the international projects such as we have with AugustaWestland," Kirillov said.
The two companies signed a 20 million euro joint venture deal in June 2011 to assemble AW139 medium twin engine helicopters at a new plant at Tomlino near Moscow.
Light helicopters are the fastest-growing segment of the Russian civil helicopter market, with strong demand from oil companies, private users and air transport companies, but Russian Helicopters has traditionally been strongest in large and medium rotorcraft.
Meanwhile, AgustaWestland announced on Monday that three AW139 helicopters will enter service in Russia to perform special security missions for an unspecified government agency, scheduled to enter operational service in 2013.
