It's lightweight, modern-looking, and can be used in a variety of applications. The VRT-500 was just presented in Moscow at the first international helicopter exhibition. It was designed by an international team of engineers working for Russian Helicopters — a subsidiary of state-owned giant Rostec.
Russian Helicopters' CEO Andrey Boginsky talked to Sputnik about the machine, and the company's ambitious plans to enter a totally new market segment with the single-engine helicopter.
"We see huge market possibilities in this niche." — Boginsky said. — "It's our new product. We estimate that during the 2022-2023 time frame we will launch initial delivery to our customers. "
The VRT500 will become the company's first lightweight machine, weighing less than two tons. It's currently undergoing extensive testing.
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According to Boginsky, the new model by Russian Helicopters is aimed at the domestic market, but sales in Asia and South America are also planned.
Russian Helicopters designs and manufactures a wide range of civilian and military helicopters, including well-known brands such as Mil and Kamov. Besides the VRT500, among the company's recent models is the multi-purpose Ansat helicopter.