Motor Sich To Sell License For Modernization Of Multi-Purpose Mi-8 And Mi-2 Helicopters To Kazakhstan

The Motor Sich public joint-stock company (Zaporizhia) is preparing to sell a license for modernization of the Mi-8 and Mi-2 multipurpose helicopters and a license for overhaul of Mi-8 helicopter engines to Kazakhstan. A representative of Motor Sich’s management announced this to the Interfax Ukraine news agency.

"Motor Sich signed a license agreement with the company Kazakh Aviation Industry (KAI) on transfer of the technology for modernization of the Mi-2 and Mi-8 multi-purpose helicopters and overhaul of the TV3-117 VMA engines for Mi-8 helicopters during the KADEX 2016 international arms exhibition that recently took place in Astana," the representative told the news agency said.

"Currently, the two sides have not yet finished work on the terms of the agreement. Among other things, they are considering the possibility of establishing a helicopter design bureau in Kazakhstan," he said, adding, "We consider Kazakhstan as a springboard for promotion of our technologies in the Central Asian region."

According to information from open sources, more than 60 Mi helicopters of various modifications are currently in operation in Kazakhstan.

Motor Sich is one of the world's largest manufacturers of aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The State Aviation Service certified Motor Sich as an aircraft developer in 2011. The Motor Sich helicopter design bureau was founded in Zaporizhia in 2012.

For about five years, Motor Sich has been modernizing the Soviet-era Mi-8T and Mi-2 multipurpose helicopters and marketing the Mi-8MSB and Mi-2MSB helicopters, which are Ukrainian re-motorized versions of the Mi-8T and Mi-2 helicopters. The Mi-8MSB helicopters are equipped with the new TV3-117VMA-SBM1-4E turbo-shaft engine, the service life of which is 30% longer. The engine has a capacity of 1,000 horsepower in cruise mode. The Mi-2MSB helicopter is equipped with a new AI-450M engine with a capacity of 465 horsepower. Both helicopter models have new avionics and improved control systems.

Motor Sich began supplying the upgraded Mi- 8MSB and Mi-2MSB helicopters to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the National Guard in the period of 2014-2015.