Russian helicopter producer eyes bigger ASEAN market share

Hanoi (VNA) – Russian Helicopters, a Moscow-based helicopter design and manufacturing company, sets a goal to increase its market share of civilian helicopters in the Association of  Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Russian Helicopters, part of the Rostec State Corporation, has introduced two models – Ansat and Mi-171A2 – near Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia during the company’s Southeast Asia helicopter tour.

The company intends to raise its current 2-percent market share of civil helicopters to between 5 – 7 percent in the next five years, said CEO Andrey Boginsky.

The firm is looking at delivering up to 15 helicopters to Malaysia in the next three years, he said, adding that it receives genuine interest from emergency, search and rescue, and firefighting agencies, particularly amidst recent disaster relief in Indonesia and other countries.

He noted that demand for civilian helicopters in ASEAN may amount to 420 helicopters for the next 10 years, thus the demo tour was part of the Russian company’s strategy to carve out a market for themselves.

Ansat is a light two-engine multi-purpose helicopter, which  has been certified for operation in hot climates and that may be used for cargo and passenger transportation, observations, search and rescue operations, fire-fighting work, and medical and evacuation tasks.

Mi-171A2 is a medium multi-purpose helicopter which is efficiently and safely operated during the day and night, in highlands, at low and high temperatures, at increased humidity and above water surface.–VNA