(NSI News Source Info) RIO DE JANEIRO - April 17, 2009: Russian Helicopters expects big business in upgrades of military aircraft in Latin America, as well as some sales of the Mi-17 utility helo, said Vladimir Mikheyev, spokesman for the holding company that represents rotorcraft manufacturers. 
The Ka-226 light multi-purpose helicopter was designed to carry out emergency missions in urban and congested areas, and is capable of taking off and landing on small, unprepared grounds. The dimensions of the helicopter are minimal and it has no tail rotor, which excludes any damage from obstacles and is safer for ground personnel. By the effectiveness of usage the helicopter is optimized to carry out a wide spectrum of aviation works in different natural-environmental conditions. The machine can be involved in rescuing, fire fighting, police, or road, oil pipe or power line patrol operations. Ka-226 is suitable for operatively managing large cities and large agricultural complexes.
Helicopters makers such Mil Military Helicopter, Kamov, Rostvertol and Kazan found a new market in the southern hemisphere in the 1990s when the collapse of the Soviet Union meant Washington dropped objections to South American countries buying military equipment from the Cold War enemy.
Among countries looking to add to its Russian fleets is Peru, which is interested in buying a small number of the multipurpose Mi-17, as is Nicaragua, Colombia and Bolivia, Mikheyev said at the Latin America Aerospace and Defense show.
Brazil bought 12 Mi-35 Ms (M for modernized), and the Air Force chief told Russian Helicopter executives at the show that the service wanted to buy more. A planned sale of the Mi-17 to Brazil fell through when the government ditched the Russian deal and bought 50 Eurocopter EC725 aircraft in December after French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the country.
The upgrade activities will draw on service centers in Mexico and Peru.
Venezuela has obtained a license for local assembly of the Kamov 226, the twin-rotor aircraft with contra-rotational blades. Venezuela is also in discussions to buy new Mi-28s. In a deal with Turbomeca, Kamov will re-engine its 266 aircraft with the more powerful Arrius 2G1 motor built by the French company. The new model will be designated Kamov 266T (T for Turbomeca).
Russian manufacturers acknowledge their weakness in advanced cockpit avionics and are open to installing European and American electronic equipment.
"We are ready to fit Western systems," Mikheyev said.
Progress, however, has been made, with the Uomz company building a FLIR electro-optical system, which has been sold to German, Italian, Polish and Spanish helicopter operators, he said.
The Ka-226 light multi-purpose helicopter was designed to carry out emergency missions in urban and congested areas, and is capable of taking off and landing on small, unprepared grounds. The dimensions of the helicopter are minimal and it has no tail rotor, which excludes any damage from obstacles and is safer for ground personnel. By the effectiveness of usage the helicopter is optimized to carry out a wide spectrum of aviation works in different natural-environmental conditions. The machine can be involved in rescuing, fire fighting, police, or road, oil pipe or power line patrol operations. Ka-226 is suitable for operatively managing large cities and large agricultural complexes.
Helicopters makers such Mil Military Helicopter, Kamov, Rostvertol and Kazan found a new market in the southern hemisphere in the 1990s when the collapse of the Soviet Union meant Washington dropped objections to South American countries buying military equipment from the Cold War enemy.
Among countries looking to add to its Russian fleets is Peru, which is interested in buying a small number of the multipurpose Mi-17, as is Nicaragua, Colombia and Bolivia, Mikheyev said at the Latin America Aerospace and Defense show.
Brazil bought 12 Mi-35 Ms (M for modernized), and the Air Force chief told Russian Helicopter executives at the show that the service wanted to buy more. A planned sale of the Mi-17 to Brazil fell through when the government ditched the Russian deal and bought 50 Eurocopter EC725 aircraft in December after French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the country.
The upgrade activities will draw on service centers in Mexico and Peru.
Venezuela has obtained a license for local assembly of the Kamov 226, the twin-rotor aircraft with contra-rotational blades. Venezuela is also in discussions to buy new Mi-28s. In a deal with Turbomeca, Kamov will re-engine its 266 aircraft with the more powerful Arrius 2G1 motor built by the French company. The new model will be designated Kamov 266T (T for Turbomeca).
Russian manufacturers acknowledge their weakness in advanced cockpit avionics and are open to installing European and American electronic equipment.
"We are ready to fit Western systems," Mikheyev said.
Progress, however, has been made, with the Uomz company building a FLIR electro-optical system, which has been sold to German, Italian, Polish and Spanish helicopter operators, he said.
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