Mahathir (third left) looks on at a model of Russian Helicopters as Chechikov (fourth left) gives him a briefing.
KUCHING: Malaysia remains one of the key markets in Southeast Asia for Russian Helicopters.
This statement was made during Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad’s visita stand of Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec State Corporation) when he attended the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2019 exhibition.
Russian Helicopters Deputy chief executive officer for aftersales service Igor Chechikov who headed the holding company’s delegation told him about the state-of-the-art helicopters designed in Russia.
“As part of this exhibition we present the Ansat and Mi-171A2 helicopters which were in Malaysia last year within the demonstration tour across Southeast Asia. Besides, here you can see our new civilian helicopter Mi-38, which occupies a niche between the classical Mi-8 and Mi-26 machines.
“We intend to develop fruitful cooperation with our partners from Malaysia and offer them both advanced machines and flexible service and aftersales service systems,” said Chechikov in a statement.
The head of the holding company’s delegation presented the Prime Minister with the Mi-171A2 helicopter in the same livery as it had during the demonstration tour.
“Russia and Malaysia have been partners in the aerospace industry for decades. For instance, Malaysia successfully operates several Mi-17 helicopters,” added Viktor Kladov, director for International Cooperation and Regional Policy Department of the State Corporation.
“We aim to expand our partnership in aviation, and we are ready to consider various cooperation options, from granting loans for supply to establishing joint service centers and technology transfer.”
As part of the demonstration tour of Russian helicopters in Southeast Asia participants of Airshow China in Zhuhai (China) and potential customers from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia acquainted themselves with the capabilities of both machines.
Demonstration of full-size civilian machines in these countries allowed us to reach certain agreements and form a large portfolio of orders for the Mi-171A2 and Ansat helicopters.
The helicopters flew almost 5,000 kilometers. Overall, more than a thousand representatives of state and commercial operators attended demonstration flights.
The machines confirmed their performance and proved that they can be used efficiently in high temperature and almost 100 per cent humidity.
Ansat is a light multipurpose twin-engine helicopter serial production of which is deployed at the Kazan helicopter plant. Its design allows converting it into a cargo version or into a passenger rotorcraft that can lift up to seven people.
The machine is certified for use with a medical module in the temperatures ranging between -45°c and +50°c. High-altitude tests of Ansat have been successfully completed, which confirmed the possibility of its use in mountainous terrain at altitudes up to 3,500 meters.
Mi-171A2 is a medium-class multipurpose helicopter combining unique experience of operating the helicopters of Mi-8/17 type and the holding company’s latest designs.
The helicopter may be effectively and safely used around the clock, in highland conditions, at low and high temperatures, high humidity and overwater.