China To Acquire 52 Mi-17 IE Transport Helicopters

Rosoboronexport and Chinese company Poly Technologies, Inc. in August signed a contract for delivery of 52 Mi-171E transport helicopters to China in 2012-2014. The first eight Mi-171Es are scheduled for delivery in 2012, with the rest slated for 2013 and 2014. The contracts follow on from agreements signed in 2009 by Russian Helicopters and Poly Technologies for delivery of 32 Mi-171Es to China. Poly Technologies seeks to acquire helicopters with state-of-the-art technical features and employs very rigorous quality control. At the client’s request, the Mi-171Es are equipped with VK-2500-03 engines, SAFIR 5K/G MI auxiliary power units and enhanced transmission systems that allow them to operate at higher altitudes including in mountainous terrain. Mi-8/17 family helicopters have a long and successful record of use in China, carrying out a range of missions from transporting goods and passengers to geological surveying, patrolling, fire-fighting and offshore transportation.