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Russia and China plan to sign contract on heavy-lift helicopter design in 1-2 months

Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant is engaged in building power transmission, gear case and windshield antiicing system of the new rotorcraft

© Valery Matytsin/TASS

ZHUHAI, November 1. /TASS/. Russia and China are planning to sign the contract on the design of a heavy-lift helicopter within the next two months, Chief Executive Officer of Russian Helicopters Alexander Mikheev said Tuesday.

"Today we’re finalizing the program’s discussion and I think we’ll sign the contract on the design of a heavy helicopter within the next one or two months," he said.

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According to Mikheev, Russian and Chinese partners have agreed the scope of work, defined the responsibility of the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, and are conducting pre-contractual negotiations on timescale, costs and area of responsibility now. "The Chinese side is in charge of the helicopter’s conceptual structure and its certification," he said, adding that the Russian company is engaged in building power transmission, gear case and windshield antiicing system. CEO also said that the Chinese side is responsible for the power generator.

AHL (Advanced Heavy Lifter) is being developed jointly by Russian Helicopters and China’s AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China). The aircraft’s take-off weight is expected to be 38.2 tonnes, and the lifting capacity - from 10 to 15 tonnes. The helicopter’s speed will be up to 300 km per hour, the flight range will reach 630 km and service ceiling - 5,700 meters.

Earlier Rostec Director General Sergei Chemezov told TASS that the engine for the helicopter would be created no earlier than two or three years later.

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