MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Russian Helicopters Group (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) delivered 213 helicopters to domestic and foreign customers in 2017, the company said in an annual report on Friday.

"In the process of implementing the priority areas of its activity in 2017, the company manufactured 205 helicopters and delivered 213 helicopters to customers within the timeframe defined by its contractual documents … The Group’s repair enterprises carried out major repairs of 148 helicopters in 2016," the report says.

"The Group increased the deliveries to Russian customers more than fivefold, first of all, as a result of implementing measures of state support for developing ambulance aviation. The basic demand was registered for helicopters of the Mi-8/17 family, and the deliveries of the Ansat light two-engine helicopter (with a weight of up to five tonnes) increased," the annual report says.

The firm order book for 2017 comprised 396 helicopters, with the orders standing at 466 billion rubles ($7.4 billion), according to the report.

"The Group’s share on the world market measured 11.5% in quantitative terms amid the market’s decline by 7.7% compared to 2015," the report says.

Also, the rotorcraft manufacturer implemented a transition jointly with Russia’s Defense Ministry to the contracts of the life cycle at the stage of operation during the sale of new and earlier supplied helicopters.

"The transition to life cycle contracts was made taking into account the available experience of performing after-sale service contracts and the prompt maintenance of helicopters jointly with the Defense Ministry of Russia upon the accomplishment of special missions by the Aerospace Force. There were no disruptions in the timeframe of the fulfillment of contractual obligations through the fault of producers-factories and customers filed no penalty sanctions," the report says.