OREANDA-NEWS. Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, and Almaty Rescue Service have signed a contract for the supply of an Mi-8AMT helicopter, to be delivered in 2014.

The Mi-8AMT is planned to be used for rescue and medevac missions in urban areas and mountain regions in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The helicopter is perfectly suited to operations in mountainous and forested terrain, and in high winds. The Mi-8AMT is fitted with an anti-icing system and an SLG-300 cargo winch system; the cargo area has a suspension system for medical stretchers, and there are equipped places for medical workers and rescuers. The helicopter is straightforward to operate and can be stored outdoors.

In 2017 Almaty will host the 28th Winter Universiade. A key task for authorities will be to hold this major event at a high level, and to provide security for all participants and guests. For this reason, Kazakh special forces aviation detachments are already being supplied with equipment they need, in particular multirole helicopters.

“The signing of this agreement to supply an Mi-8AMT to Almaty Rescue Service is an important event in co-operation between the parties, and will help the further development of long-term relationships in the operation of Russian-built helicopters in Kazakhstan,” said Russian Helicopters CEO Dmitry Petrov.

The Mi-8AMT is an overhauled version of the world-renowned Mi-8. It was developed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and built by Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, both of which are Russian Helicopters companies. The multirole Mi-8AMT can be used for a wide range of tasks, from patrolling and fire-fighting to observation missions, and cargo and personnel transportation in hard-to-reach areas. The Mi-8AMT's capabilities are constantly being expanded and updated to allow the helicopter to tackle increasingly complex and varied tasks. Today more than 12,000 Mi-8/17 series helicopters have been produced and supplied to over 100 countries around the world.