Technodinamika Holding (previously known as Aviation Equipment), Russian Helicopters, and the French company Microturbo have signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly produce a new auxiliary helicopter power unit, Saphir 15.
In accordance with this memorandum, Technodinamika Holding has the exclusive right to supply units and provide technical support in the interests of its first customer, Russian Helicopters. In the future, Technodinamika and Microturbo intend to jointly increase the pool of customers for the new product to foreign helicopter markets.
As part of launching the new brand, Technodinamika CEO Maxim Kuzyuk, Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO Roman Chernyshev, and Microturbo head Pierre-Yves Morvan signed the agreement.
“The joint project with Microturbo to create the modern Saphir 15 power unit for Russian Helicopters affirms the effective development and strengthening of business ties between Technodinamika and foreign partners, even during difficult conditions for the Russian economy,” said Maxim Kuzyuk, CEO of Technodinamika. “We plan to sign a binding agreement with financing partners and financial institutions in the near future.”
Technodinamika has already completed the first phase of the project, technical sketches, and has moved on to the detailed design stage. The international agreement authorizes the companies to jointly create and continue the modernization of the Saphir 15 power unit.
The unit will be certified according to the standards of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and will receive a certificate from the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC). Completion of certification testing and the start of mass production are planned for 2017. Saphir 15 is designed for virtually all middle-class helicopters, primarily the Russian Mi and Ka types.
“The participation of Russian Helicopters in this project is of great interest to potential purchasers of the new product,” said Microturbo CEO Pierre-Yves Morvan. “By increasing our cooperation with the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, we expect to finalize and begin serial production of the new product by 2017, responding to customers’ increasing demands.”
“Russian Helicopters carries out a broad range of cooperative and collaborative work with the industry’s leading companies in order to increase the efficiency of and develop new technologies,” said Russian Helicopters CEO Roman Chernyshev. “This path opens up new opportunities for the companies. Collaboration leads to the creation of new products and technologies that reduce costs. The new auxiliary power unit for our helicopters will diversify the sources of component suppliers. Technodinamika has already established itself as a reliable supplier of aggregates for Russian-made helicopters.”
Technodinamika specializes in the design, manufacture, and aftersales services of aircraft systems and units. Additionally, the holding company produces components and units for the oil and gas, automotive, transportation, and energy industries. Technodinamika consists of 36 companies located throughout Russia: in Moscow, Moscow region, Ufa, Samara, Ulyanovsk, Omsk, Arkhangelsk region, and other regions of Russia. The holding is a part of Rostec. Key partners and customers of the holding include United Aircraft Corporation, Russian Helicopters, United Engine Corporation, Aeroflot, S7, UTair, and others.
Microturbo (Safran), a subsidiary of Turbomeca, specializes in the design and manufacture of power units for civilian aircraft, including auxiliary power units and starting systems for airplanes and helicopters. Microturbo’s power units are highly efficient and reliable due to the company’s large-scale investment in R&D efforts and strategic partnership with the world’s leading OEM manufacturers. With offices worldwide, Microturbo offers its customers effective solutions in response to complex support and service needs. Microturbo, a world leader in the field of propulsion systems and solutions, has sold more than 21,000 units.
