Russian Helicopters present the light multirole VRT500 helicopter at MAKS-2017 for the first time

Moscow / July 19, 2017

Russian Helicopters holding company (part of Rostec State Corporation) presented the light multirole VRT500 helicopter developed by the VR-Technologies design bureau at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017.

The VRT500 is a light single-engine helicopter with coaxial propellers and 1,600 kg of take-off weight. The aircraft will have the largest passenger and cargo cabin with total capacity of 5 people and will be equipped with a modern avionics complex based on the “glass cockpit” principle.

The helicopter is planned to be supplied in passenger, multirole, cargo, training, VIP and HEMS configurations. The flight and technical parameters of the helicopter will allow it to speed up to 225 km/h and have up to 860 km of range and up to 730 kg of payload.

“The prototype of the light multirole helicopter for flight tests should be manufactured by the end of 2019. We are planning to finish the tests and to certify the machine by the middle of 2021, after which it will be ready to enter both Russian and international market,” noted Director General of VR-Technologies Aleksandr Okhonko.

The leading Russian and foreign companies are taking part in the development of the helicopter’s main systems that are developed in accordance with the international safety standards and requirements. The certified engine that is already very popular in the world market, together with the modern maintenance service organization principles, ensures competitive operating costs and operational readiness. The LMH is to be certified at the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and serially manufactured at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant.

JSC Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec State Corporation), is one of the world leaders in helicopter industry, the only developer and manufacturer of helicopters in Russia. The holding company was established in 2007. The head office is located in Moscow. The holding company is comprised of five helicopter plants, two design bureaus, enterprises for production and maintenance of components, aircraft repair plants and a service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. Among the buyers of the holding company’s products are Defense Ministry of Russia, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazprom Avia and UTair airlines, as well as major Russian and foreign companies. In 2016, the revenue of Russian Helicopters under IFRS amounted to RUB 214.3 billion, its shipments totaled to 189 helicopters.

Rostec State Corporation is a Russian corporation that was established in 2007 to facilitate the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civilian and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organizations that are currently part of eleven holding companies operating in the military-industrial complex and three holding companies working in civilian sectors. It also includes 80 direct management companies. Rostec’s portfolio includes such well-known brands as AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, Kalashnikov Concern, Russian Helicopters, VSMPO AVISMA, etc. Rostec companies are headquartered in 60 entities of the Russian Federation and supply products to more than 70 countries. In 2015, the consolidated revenue of Rostec reached RUB 1.14 trillion. The average salary across the corporation totaled RUB 41,000, and tax proceeds from its activities into budgets of all levels exceeded RUB 160 billion. According to its new strategy, the main objective of the corporation is to ensure that Russia has a technological advantage in highly competitive markets. The corporation plans to invest a total of RUB 4.3 trillion in development through 2025.