Russian Helicopters Offers the Light Multi-role Ansat on African Aviation Markets

The Russian industrial holding company Russian Helicopters, a part of the multi-profile industrial group UIC Oboronprom, offers the African aviation markets south of the Sahara, the new light multi-role Ansat.

This civil helicopter with an MTOW of 3.3 tons is manufactured by the Kazan Helicopters, JSC, a part of Russian Helicopters, and is designed for the transportation of 9 passengers (+1 crew member).

In various modifications the Ansat can be used by transport and cargo companies, medical and rescue services, and police and special forces. The cutting edge fly-by-wire system and two PW-207K engines by Pratt & Whitney Canada endow this helicopter with formidable performance characteristics.

Ease of piloting, flight safety, eco-friendliness, and high fuel efficiency are the main competitive point of the Ansat, and according to industry experts they make it stand out in the Russian Helicopters lineup as one of the most suitable helicopters for the African aviation market. Due to the interest of regional operator companies to this model, Russian Helicopters is set to promote a helicopter based on the Ansat to the African market.

A presentation of the Ansat and its capabilities was held at the international exhibition Africa Aerospace and Defence 2010 that kicked off in Cape Town in South Africa. The Ansat was demonstrated in flight, at the static display and on Stand 11-12 in Hall 11 as part of the joint Russian exposition of the State Corporation Russian Technologies (Rostekhnologii).

The medium Ka-62 with a MTOW of 6.5 tons was presented at the booth of UIC Oboronprom and Russian Helicopters. Besides that regional operators are offered a deep modernisation program of the most popular Russian made helicopters in Africa, such as the Mi-8/17 – to the new Mi-171M. The combat Mi-35M made by Rostvertol have also become a part of the general exposition of the Russian helicopter industry.

“African aviation markets have long been traditional for the Russian industry,” Russian Helicopters COO Andrei Shibitov said. “People know our products well, especially the tested Mi-8/17 machines that are used by international humanitarian organisations. But today we want to present our African partners a new model – the Ansat.”.

Mikhail Dubrovin, Marketing Director of Russian Helicopters, commented, that the joint realisation with African partners of the Ansat aftersale service concept in the region will help raise interest both from traditional operators of Russian rotorcraft in the region, and companies that are new with these models.

Today already Russian Helicopters is offering the Ansat and is ready for contracts for other Russian helicopters, including the light Mi-34C1, Ka-226T, the medium Ka-62 and the EASA-certified Ka-32A11BC, the new Mi-38, and the heavy transport Mi-26T.

Russian Helicopters is also paying a lot of attention to global aftersale service of Russian-made rotorcraft. In various regions of the world the holding and Helicopter Service Company, which is a part of it, are creating and certifying service centers and repair plants. As planned this work will finish with the creation of a global service network.

The existing MRO infrastructure coincides with the Russian Helicopters sales geography. For instance, Indian service centre within Integrated Helicopter Services Pvt. Ltd. is under way. The service center in Vietnam is already in operation. Several service and repair centers are undergoing certification in Europe for creating of the integrated logistics support system in that region. Russian Helicopters MRO centers exist in virtually all countries of the CIS. The joint venture International RotorCraft Services, FZC was set up in Sharjah (UAE) to cater for Russian-made helicopters’ after-sale support. In 2009—2010 such centers will be built in South-East Asia, Central and South Africa.


Russian Helicopters, JSC is an affiliated company of UIC Oboronprom. It is the managing body of the following helicopter industry enterprises: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Kazan Helicopters, Rostvertol, Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, Vpered Moscow Machine-Building Plant, Stupino Machine Production Plant, Reductor-PM, Helicopter Service Company (VSK), Novosibirsk Aircraft Repairing Plant and Helicopter Service Company, JSC.

UIC Oboronprom, JSC is a multi-profile industrial and investment group established in 2002. Its main tasks include helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters managing company), engine-building (United Engine Industry Corporation managing company), air defense systems and complex electronic systems (Defense Systems holding company), and other activities.