Russian Helicopters plans first long-term contract with India

Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, plans to sign the first long-term maintenance agreement with India to provide after-sales service for Mi-17 helicopters.
"We have conducted negotiations with our Indian partners and we plan to sign a contract that will lay the foundation for collaboration between Russian Helicopters and India in an entirely new way," said Igor Chechikov, Russian Helicopter's deputy CEO.
"The company is shifting from offering separate services to providing comprehensive after-sales support," he said in a statement emailed to media.
"The possibility of such collaboration is now being discussed with the Air Force, Navy and border patrol troops of India," Chechikov said at Defexpo India 2016.

"For us, it will be the first long-term service contract with India," he said on the agreement for the Mi-17 transport helicopters to be signed with India's Ministry of Defence.
"Set prices and delivery dates for supplying equipment needed to repair our helicopters are among the advantages of this type of contract. It will boost Russian-made helicopters' after-sales system to a new level," he said.

According to the preliminary agreement, Russian Helicopters will provide repairs to Mi-17 type helicopters and will supply spare parts for them throughout the entire life cycle of the rotorcraft.
Repairs of helicopters operated in India will be performed by enterprises belonging to Russian Helicopters holding company.

The contract life cycle is expected to be three years, the release said.
Its further extension, as well as an expansion of helicopter models covered by the after-sales support system, are also being considered.
Russian Helicopters specialists have submitted an itemised list to the Indian Air Force that specifies 4,000 items - equipment needed to provide maintenance and extensive helicopter repairs.
Before the end of 2016, the list will grow up to 6,000 items to be further supplemented and updated in future.
Russian Helicopters is one of the global leaders in helicopter production and the only helicopter design and production powerhouse in Russia.