OREANDA-NEWS. Over 150 Russian-made helicopters are currently involved in UN humanitarian and peacekeeping operations around the world. Speaking at the Russian Hour conference at Heli-Expo 2014 in Anaheim, CA, United States, representatives of Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, and commercial aviation firms UTair, PANH Helicopters and Ukrainian Helicopters discussed their positive experience of cooperation in this area.

“The extensive use of Russian-made helicopters in UN missions is further testimony to the unique capabilities of our technology,” Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev said. “Russian helicopters are unmatched on humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. I am confident that the new technologies we are currently working to develop will also become effective instruments for UN missions.”

“UTair helicopters have played an active role in air transport support for UN missions since the early 1990s,” UTair Helicopter Services President Alexei Vinogradov said. “Over this time a great wealth of positive experience in using Russian-made helicopters has been amassed.”

“The helicopters are ideally suited to a diverse range of operations, fr om UN support missions, passenger transport, observation and monitoring, SAR and medevac operations, and support for special police units.”

“Our helicopters are operated under UN contracts in the most challenging climates, in places wh ere there is a wide temperature range, in dust storms and heavy downpours, in mountainous terrain, and landing on unprepared ground,” First Deputy General Director of PANH Helicopters Alexei Skorikov said. “Nonetheless, Russian helicopters are recognised world over for their reliability and the high-quality of our flight and engineering teams, all of which enable us to complete these complex missions. We also actively cooperate with Russian Helicopters on modernizing our helicopters, updating their avionics in line with the particular demands placed on us by the specific areas in which we operate.”

Today a wide range of Russian-made helicopter models carry out UN missions. They include those in the Mi-8/17 family, the world's heaviest-lifting Mi-26(T), and multirole Ka-32 type helicopters. They take part in UN missions in a range of climates and environments across the world, from Afghanistan, South Sudan, Somalia, East Timor and countries across Africa. During the conference, Russian Helicopters also unveiled new developments that incorporate the latest modern technologies and build on experience using helicopters on UN missions. Russian Hour participants had the opportunity to hear about new helicopters, such as the medium multirole Mi-171A2 and transport and passenger Mi-38.

The Mi-171A2 was developed at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant on the basis of the legendary Mi-8/17 series. The latest technologies and solutions are incorporated into its development, which takes into account the needs of operators and potential customers of the Mi-8/17 series. The Mi-171A2 features enhanced propulsion systems, upgraded main rotor and gear systems, and advanced avionics.

The new Russian Mi-38 multirole helicopter can be used to carry cargo and passengers, as a flying hospital, and for a range of other operational needs. Its competitive advantages include a high cruising speed of 295 km/hour and range of 1,200km, and the fact that it can be used in a wide range of climates, and on peacekeeping missions.

Russian Helicopters places particular significance on supporting the operation of helicopters used to carry out UN humanitarian and peacekeeping missions.