OREANDA-NEWS. Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, has signed an agreement with the Kazakhstan Emergencies Ministry for a Mi-171E helicopter, with delivery planned for 2015.

The Mi-171E is a modification of the Mi-8/17 series. These helicopters are recognised as among the best in their class for search and rescue operations, and are widely deployed in the aftermath of flooding, earthquakes and other disasters, to fight forest fires around the world, and to provide medical assistance in the field.

Helicopters produced by Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, a Russian Helicopters company, can be kitted out to aid work in mountain conditions. The Mi-171E can operate at air temperatures ranging from minus 50 to plus 50°C, and in adverse weather conditions. It can carry up to 26 people in passenger seats or up to 12 on stretchers accompanied by medical staff. The cargo version of the helicopter can carry up to 4 tons inside the cabin or on an external sling.

Russia and Kazakhstan have developed a successful partnership in operating Russian helicopters in recent years, and Russian Helicopters has completed several joint projects with Kazakh partners. In May 2012, the Kazakhstan Emergencies Ministry took delivery of two new multirole Ka-32A11BCs, while in February 2013 four Mi-171Sh helicopters were delivered to the Kazakhstan Border Service through Rosoboronexport. In August last year another Mi-171E was transferred to the Interior Ministry. At Russian Helicopters' Novosibirsk Aviation Repair Plant, two Mi-26Ts are being overhauled for Kazaviaspas, and this year a Mi-8AMT is scheduled for delivery to the Akimat (regional executive authorities) of Almaty.

Some 200 Russian-built helicopters are in operation with state bodies and in the private sector in Kazakhstan. Today the country's fleet of commercial and military helicopters includes Mi-8/17 series models such as the Mi-8MTV, Mi-171E and Mi-171V-5, the military transport Mi-26, the commercial Mi-26T, the multirole Ka-32A11BC and the Mi-24 military helicopter.