Russian Helicopters (subsidiary of Oboronprom, forming part of Russian Technologies Corporation) and AgustaWestland (forming part of Finmeccanica) have declared the signing of final agreements on creation of HeliVert, the joint venture between Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland with an even involvement of the parties. The HeliVert enterprise will build and manage the assembly plant for production of civil medium twin-engine AW139 helicopter in Russia. AEX.ru

The assembly line is being built on the territory with an area of 40000 square meters in Tomilino industrial zone located near Moscow, its opening is scheduled on this summer and the assembly work shall start in the fourth quarter 2011. The plant should be able to assembly 15 AW139s per year. The assembly line is intended to meet the requirements of Russia and CIS Region. The HeliVert will be managed by Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland, which will designate the Director General and his deputy respectively, on the equal basis. The enterprise’s staff size will exceed 100 employees when working at maximum capacity.

This agreement has followed the solemn ceremony of assembly line’s opening in June 2010 and it is a new achievement in the network of strategic partnership between Oboronprom and AgustaWestland, which has been started in summer 2007.

Dmitry Petrov, CEO of Russian Helicopters, said: “This Russian-Italian high-efficient partnership promises mutually beneficial technological and marketing results. I am sure that mutual sharing of experience and industrial standards will bring one of the best helicopters in Russia and CIS Region”.

CEO of AgustaWestland Bruno Spaniolli said: “We are pleased with entering a new stage of our partnership’s development, which is laying a road to future partnership with Russian Helicopters by means of the best-selling medium twin-engine helicopter at the global market. We are confident that AW139 will meet the requirements of civil market in Russia and CIS Region”.

A solemn ceremony has taken place to mark the beginning of the construction on June 2010. A special commemorative capsule has been laid in the foundation of the production site in Tomilino.