DM Monitoring
NUR SULTAN: A ceremonial transfer of the first batch of Mi-8AMT helicopters for the needs of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan, produced at the Aircraft Repair Plant No. 405 JSC, took place in Kazakhstan’s Almaty city, local media reported on Monday.
This helicopter assembly project was implemented in line with the instructions of the First President of Kazakhstan and Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, given in 2015 following the state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The event was attended by the management of Russian Helicopters JSC and government agencies of Kazakhstan.
The Mi-8AMT is a multipurpose helicopter, the most massive twin-engine helicopter in the world. It is widely used in more than 50 countries for a variety of civil and military tasks.
Earlier December 2019, Russian Helicopters had signed a supplementary agreement with Kazakhstan Engineering and Aircraft Repair Plant (ARP) No 405, both of which are Kazakh companies, to supply an initial batch of 17 semi-knockdown kits produced by Russia’s Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant for the assembly of Mil Mi-8AMT/Mi-171E helicopters in Kazakhstan.
Agencies reported that the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan had revealed that the deal is worth US$460 million.
The first batch of eight helicopters was expected to be delivered in December 2020, with the remainder by 2026. According to the ministry, the helicopters have adapted to the specific requirements of the customers.
“The technology for assembling heavy helicopters has been introduced to Kazakhstan for the first time and this is a significant step in the development of Kazakhstan’s helicopter industry,” insists chairman of the board of Kazakhstan Engineering.
“Our cooperation will assist in the modernisation of Kazakhstan’s rotary-wing fleet and in the enhancement of the scientific and technical potential of local [Kazakh] enterprises,” points out Andrey Boginsky, chief executive of Russian Helicopters.
An outline agreement, signed in January, foresees the local assembly of a total of 45 kit versions of the helicopters delivered to Kazakhstan up to 2025.
The agreement envisages that Russian Helicopters will certify the assembly line in Kazakhstan, assist the country in providing through-life support (TLS) for the assembled platforms, and deliver training for personnel.
This agreement followed the signing of a related 2017 memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Kazakh’s Aircraft Repair Plant No 405 already has considerable experience in the maintenance and overhaul of Mil helicopters.
Beibut Atamkulov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry, in 2018 reported to the nation’s parliament (Majilis) that up to 10 front-line helicopters and four military transport aircrafts are to be repaired at the ARP № 405.
