Russian preliminary agrees with Cambodia on supplies of Ansat, Mi-171A2 helicopters

PATTAYA, November 26. /TASS/. The Russian Helicopters Holding has signed a preliminary agreement and plans to start negotiations with the government of Cambodia on the supply of two Mi-171A2 and two Ansat helicopters to that country, Dmitry Danilov, deputy head of the holding, told TASS on Monday. "In Cambodia, we also signed an agreement providing for cooperation in the supply of two Mi-171A2 helicopters and two Ansat helicopters," he said at a presentation of the helicopters at Utapao International Airport in Rayong province in Thailand. "We are now preparing a corresponding offer for our Cambodian partners. I think that at the end of this year or the beginning of the next year we will start the negotiations," he added. Danilov specified that earlier the holding had signed memoranda, agreements and soft contracts on supplies to Vietnam and Cambodia. "Firm supply contracts will result after a lengthy negotiation process. Now it is important to boost interest in our product, show advantages," he explained. On November 20, in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, the Russian company conducted demonstration flights of Ansat and Mi-171A2. It also presented main competitive advantages of those helicopters, their after-sales maintenance service and financial instruments for the purchase of Russian vehicles. Earlier, at the Airshow China, the company sold 20 Ansat helicopters to China. The Chinese authorities also plan to buy six Mi-171A2. The holding believes that such demonstration tours are a good practice that can be continued. "We will act proceeding from our products, opportunities and markets. We are also going to look in the direction of South America," Danilov concluded. The Russian Helicopters Holding is part of the Rostec State Corporation. Ansat and Mi-171A2 Ansat is a light two-engine multirole helicopter. The maximum takeoff weight is 3.6 tons. It can carry over 1.2 tons of payload or 7-8 passengers. The cruising speed is 250 km/h and the range is close to 500 km. Mi-171A2 is the latest modification of the Mi-8 series helicopters. The Mi-171A2 includes: powerful propulsion systems, upgraded main rotor and gear systems, upgraded fuselage, broad range of specialized equipment, integrated flying systems, advanced avionics. Russian Helicopters are now doing a demonstration tour promoting Mi-171A2 and Ansat helicopters in the countries of Southeast Asia. Read more