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Russia, South Africa sign contract for servicing Russian helicopters

An agreement was signed with South Africa’s Denel Aviation on the establishment of a maintenance centre for servicing, modernization and capital repairs of Russian Mi-8/17

LE BOURGET, June 17 (Itar-Tass) - A contract for after-sales servicing of Russian-made helicopters signed with South Africa will make it possible to operate helicopters in all African countries to the south of the Sahara, Vladimir Artyakov, a deputy director general of Russian State Corporation Rostec and leader of Rostec’s delegation, told a news conference on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, an agreement was signed with South Africa’s Denel Aviation on the establishment of a maintenance centre for servicing, modernization and capital repairs of Russian Mi-8/17 helicopters. “This centre will make it possible to use new rotorcraft efficiently in this region, I mean the entire Africa south of the Sahara,” he stressed.

“Regrettably, no efficient system for servicing our helicopters ha s existed there for years. This centre will give a fresh impetus to do away with maintenance problems for our helicopters,” he noted.

Apart from that, a contract was signed on Monday with Austria’s Diamond on the development of light aircraft sector. Artyakov did not cite the cost of this contract, noting that “a business plan is being formed.” “We consider it a very profitable contract,” he stressed.

According to Artyakov, Russia plans to use light aircraft as training and regional planes. “WE think it is a very efficient project and we hope to have a considerable economic and technological effect,” he added.

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