Cooperation needed for helicopter development (230 words)

Published: 8/21/2000

Following discussions concerning the increase of royalties from the producers of Mil helicopters to the designer Mil, a meeting was held on 17th August involving Leonid Zapolsky, Temporary Manager of the Mil Helicopter Plant, Alexander Lavrentyev, Director General of the Kazan Helicopter Plant, Boris Syusar, Director General of Rosvertol and Leonid Belykh, Director General of the Ulan-Ude Helicopter Plant. The focus of the discussion was the continuing efforts of the helicopter designer and producers to focus their developments and discuss a broader cooperation agreement due to be signed in mid-September. Greater cooperation between the various producers and designer is considered to be an essential development if the industry is to remain competitive and avoid the unnecessary competition that has cropped up in markets such as Malaysia, where two producers Ulan-Ude and Kazan offered the same helicopter against each other. Development of new helicopters also remains a pressing issue for the industry and cooperation remains an essential element in moving the process ahead. Mil particularly are known to prefer a more integrated approach to the development of the industry as opposed to the current ad hoc arrangements, which despite agreements remain very fluid as the problems in Malaysia illustrated. The planned presentation of the Mi-24PN at the meeting was postponed in deference to the crisis involving the Kursk submarine.

Article ID: 2010