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Russia’s Rosneft to operate Russia-Italy helicopters in offshore projects

“HeliVert plans to produce and deliver 160 helicopters to Rosneft until 2025,” Rosneft said

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. Russian oil giant Rosneft will order 160 helicopters AgustaWestland AW189 produced jointly by Russia and Italy.

“HeliVert plans to produce and deliver 160 helicopters to Rosneft until 2025,” the oil company said, noting that “the deal plans to assemble helicopters AW189, deliver them, provide for their post-sale maintenance and crew training."

“The project also plans to localize AW189 production in Russia gradually by 2025.”

Rosneft, state-run technologies corporation Rostec and Italian major machine-building concern Finmeccanica inked a tripartite deal on strategic partnership.

The deal plans to set up a joint venture on the premises of Moscow regional plant HeliVert, a joint venture of holding Helicopters of Russia integrated in Rostec and AgustaWestland incorporated in Finmeccanica. Rosneft will become a new partner of a Russian-Italian enterprise. Production of mid-sized helicopters AW189 is planned to launch at the plant.

“Development of offshore projects is Rosneft’s strategic goal. Fulfilment of this task is impossible without advanced Arctic and marine machinery, oil and gas platforms and modern aircraft,” the Rosneft press service quoted oil major’s CEO Igor Sechin as saying.

A multi-purpose helicopter AW189 belongs to an intermediate class with a maximum lift-off weight of 8.3 tons. The rotorcraft was developed specifically for offshore flights and search-and-rescue operations, making freight, passenger and other deliveries.