In September 2015, Kazan Helicopters, a Russian Helicopters company (part of State Corporation Rostec) celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding.
Kazan Helicopters traces its history back to 4 September 1940, when Leningrad Aircraft Plant No. 387 was founded. It was evacuated to Kazan at the start of the Great Patriotic War, and there it merged with Components Plant No. 169. During the war the plant produced more than 11,000 Po-2 biplanes for the front – every tenth warplane was produced at this plant.
The launch of series production on the Mi-1, the first Russian-made series-produced helicopter, was a turning point in the plant's history. The Mi-4 followed – the first military transport helicopter for the USSR’s Armed Forces. Boasting the same configuration as the US Sikorsky S-55, the Mi-4 had double the cargo capacity of its US counterpart. For over 20 years, this was the main troop-lift helicopter for Warsaw Pact countries. The legendary Mi-8/17 helicopters, which are among the most mass-produced helicopters in global aviation history, were the plant's flagship models. These helicopters are operated in over 100 countries. Today, Kazan Helicopters produces the latest configurations of commercial and military helicopters in the Mi-8/17 series: Mi-8MTV-1 (Mi-171-V), Mi-8MTV-5 (Mi-17V-5) and the Mi-172.
“Kazan Helicopters is a key enterprise in the sector, delivering full-cycle helicopter production. It was here that the first light Ansat helicopter was produced, and here that the latest multirole Mi-38 will be brought into series production,” said Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev. “I am confident that the experience accumulated and the vast research and industrial potential will see these plans realised, lending new momentum to the further development of Russia’s helicopter industry.”
The Ansat light helicopter is an unparalelled development made at the plant, incorporating a balance of traditional and innovative technical solutions. The Ansat has a number of competitive advantages over other models in its class. The company's latest development – the medium transport multirole Mi-38 helicopter – is currently in the final stages of certification testing and is being readied for series production at Kazan Helicopters. This helicopter offers great operational autonomy, does not need to be kept in a hangar, is economical to operate and has enhanced systems and components capacity. The Mi-38 cargo capacity, flight speed, a roomy transport cabin and higher fuel efficiency.
Kazan Helicopters has received numerous awards recognising its achievements, including the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, the Order of the October Revolution, and the International Golden Mercury Award. The company has been named Russia's best exporter.