Russian Helicopters at LIMA 2017 in Malaysia

Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, and Rosoboronexport featured Mi-171Sh military and transport helicopter and Ka-52 Alligator at the International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition Lima 2017, March 21-25, on the Malaysian island of Langkawi.

Russian Helicopters specialists demonstrated to helicopter operators and potential clients civil and military rotorcraft including the Mi-17V-5 and Mi-171Sh helicopters; the Ka-52 Alligator combat helicopters, the Ka-32 type rotorcraft, as well as the company’s prospective multirole helicopters - Mi-171A2, the Mi-38 and Ansat.  These machines have unique characteristics that allow them to work in tropical climates and are capable of solving a wide range of tasks for both security and civil agencies of the region’s countries.

“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a dynamic growing market with an increasing demand in modern, high-quality and reliable helicopters to solve a wide range of tasks. This market if one of the top priorities for us, and we are interested in long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation,” said Alexander Shcherbinin, Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO for marketing and business development.

The show participants have a tight schedule ahead of them.  Russian Helicopters specialists and their colleagues from Rosoboronexport had a number of meetings and negotiations aimed at closer cooperation with the Southeast Asian countries, which operate more than 1,000 Russian-made civil and military helicopters.  Russian Helicopters also demonstrated the after-sales service system for civil helicopters, which ensures services throughout the entire life cycle of rotorcraft.  

The Mi-17V-5 helicopter is a new modification of the Mi-8/17 series developed by Mil Design Bureau with participation of Kazan Helicopters. The Mi-17V-5 is equipped with the new VK-2500 engines, modern avionics, modernized transmission, on-board weather radar, and has increased payload mass. Russian Helicopters is constantly improving this helicopter’s characteristics to boost its competitiveness.

The Mi-171Sh is a military transport helicopter designed to combat armored ground immobile and mobile small targets, to destroy enemy forces, transport military cargo, deliver troops, operate day and night, in difficult weather conditions and in a variety of climates.  The helicopter can be equipped with the latest small arms, rocket, bomb and gun weapons systems and protective gear. The helicopter is designed to transport up to 37 paratroopers and up to 4,000 kg of cargo, up to 12 injured persons on stretchers and can carry out search and rescue operations, including CSAR.

The Ka-52 Alligator is a next-generation reconnaissance and combat helicopter designed to destroy  enemy's battle tanks, armored and non-armored ground targets, as well as other helicopters and personnel. The helicopter can operate around the clock and in all weather, and it can carry out other missions. The helicopter is equipped with the latest avionics suite and powerful offensive weapons that can be configured for a wide range of combat missions. In addition, the Ka-52 helicopter boasts stealth capabilities and radio-electronic protection means, which disperse or distort the heat trail and active protection means. 

The helicopter has new, more powerful and more efficient Klimov VK-2500PS-03 engines; a main rotor with composite blades and improved aerodynamics; an X-shaped tail rotor; completely new integrated avionics deployed using an open-architecture KBO-17 glass cockpit; a four-channel digital autopilot, which reduces crew workload by assisting in piloting.  Unique flight characteristics allow to use the Mi-171A2 in humid tropical conditions. The helicopter is designed to solve a wide range of tasks, from patrolling coasts to search-and-rescue operations for governmental and commercial agencies of the region’s countries.

LIMA is one of the biggest aerospace exhibitions in Asia-Pacific held in alternative years on the island of Langkawi under the patronage of the Malaysian Ministry of Defense.