Beijing/25 Sep 2009 – Russian Helicopters, JSC, the managing body of the consolidated Russian helicopter industry holding, is planning to start taking orders for the deeply modernised Mi-8M helicopter. First deliveries of Mi-8M are scheduled for 2013. After serious modernisation this model will retain its popularity on the global market at least till 2020.

The Mi-8M modernization programme includes advanced solutions already tested in development of another Russian helicopter – the Mi-38.

Russia-based Transas company has already developed the IBKV-17 integrated avionics suite for the Mi-8/17 modernization program to implement the glass cockpit concept. IBKV-17 brings new features to Russian-made helicopters widely expanding operational limits and decreasing pilot burdens thanks to automation of many tasks and processes.

Russian Helicopters is continuing its cooperation with Transas, Russian Avionics and the Ramenskoye Instrument Plant Design Bureau (RPKB). Russian Helicopters expects that the IBKV-17 and the overall quality of the modernized Mi-8M will ensure additional sales on traditional markets and help to increase demand for Russian-made helicopters on new markets.

“We have a constant orders intake for Mi-8/17 models,” Russian Helicopters CEO Andrei Shibitov says. “And we modernize them constantly while keeping them on the production line. We expect orders to come from civil companies on the Russian and international markets, including Chinese companies.”

Mi-8/17 helicopter models are the best selling products of the Russian helicopter industry, securing 60—70% of the Russian Helicopters’ annual order book. Export shipments of Mi-8/17 in different modifications constitute around 75% of all orders coming from foreign operators.

Mi-8/17M is a working designation of the new helicopter; the serial model will be given a new name.

Source: Russian Helicopters JSC