The Russian Helicopters holding delivered the first Mi-171 helicopter with VK-2500 engines to China. The portfolio of orders for such helicopters amounts to 12, a spokesperson of the Russian company told TASS at the China Helicopter Exposition.

"The first Mi-171 helicopter with VK-2500 engines was supplied to a Chinese customer. Contracts for supply of twelve more helicopters to Chinese customers were signed and are performed," the spokesperson said.

"In December 2018, demo flights of the Mi-171 helicopter with VK-2500 engines were made in high mountains, in the region of the Chinese city of Lijiang. The helicopter completed the mission of delivering 3 tonnes of water and its dumping on the fire hotspot during flights at an altitude of 3,300 meters, which was not done before by any helicopter of this class," the spokesperson noted.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the national certificate for the Mi-171 helicopter with VK-2500 engines earlier this year, making possible to supply this helicopter to China.

Russian Helicopters also expects completion of the validation procedure for the certificate of Mi-171A2 helicopter in China in 2020.

"Work is underway to validate the Mi-171A2 helicopter type certificate. All the materials required to complete the certification procedure were send to the Civil Aviation Administration of China and accepted for work. Obtainment of the certificate is expected in 2020," the spokesperson said.