Motor Sich (Zaporozhe) is going to deliver the batch of five multi-role Mi-8 helicopters modernized by Konotop Aircraft Repair Plant “AVIAKON” to a foreign customer in summer in the network of a program initiated by the Ukrainian engine company, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

"At present the first five vehicles have been modernized in the network of this project and we are going to deliver them to the customer in late June", - a representative of Motor Sich’s top-management said.

The source declined any comments regarding name of the customer and details of the contract. However he said that 18 helicopters should be modernized by AVIAKON this year.

As reported by the source, the modernization program assumes replacement of ТV3-117 engines by new-built ТV3-117SB МIВ ones.

The source has disposed of information that the modernization of Mi-8s performed by AVIAKON also assumes replacement of current helicopter’s airframe by a new one produced by Ulan-Ude aviation plant.

"The replacement of the airframe is not assumed by the program: in this case it would have been the new helicopter instead of the modernized one. New helicopters are manufactured by Ulan-Ude aviation plant and we are delivering our engines to our Russian partners", - he said.

According to the representative of Motor Sich, certification of the Ukrainian version of modernized Mi-8 – Mi-8MSB has been completed by the company in late 2011.

The amount of Motor Sich’s investments in the project is estimated at 50 hryvnas, he said.

According to Motor Sich’s plans, which have been unveiled in autumn 2011, the company intends to perform modernization of 40 multi-role Mi-2 and Mi-8 helicopters at Konotop Aircraft Repair Plant AVIAKON by 2014-2015.

Motor Sich is going to invest more than $10 million in the five-year program.