Signs MOU To Develop, Certify Turboshaft Variant

Pratt & Whitney Canada and Helicopters of Russia signed a memorandum of understanding Friday to produce the PW127TS engine for Russia's next-generation, twin-engine medium helicopter MI-38.

Under the agreement with JSC "Helicopters of Russia", JSC "Ufa Engine Industrial Association" (UMPO) and the Central Institute of Aviation Motors (CIAM), P&WC will be responsible for developing a turboshaft version of its PW127 engine, and having it certified to Transport Canada and Russian standards.

Helicopters of Russia, together with UMPO, will invest in the development and localization of the PW127TS, which will be assembled under license by UMPO for the Russian MI-38. The MI-38 will be manufactured by Kazan Helicopters.

"This breakthrough project in Russia is exciting for us, in that we combine the expertise of world-class aerospace companies to build this new helicopter engine," said Joseph Torchetti, vice president, International Business Development, P&WC.

Added Andrey Shibitov, General Director of Helicopters of Russia, "We are very pleased to be entering into this innovative arrangement with Pratt & Whitney Canada, which brings together the outstanding track record and dependability of its engines with the growing capabilities of Russia's aerospace sector."

FMI: www.pwc.ca