MOSCOW, October 17 (AVN) - Russia is likely to receive an official invitation to participate in the Greek tender for purchase of 32 transport and combat helicopters in late October, a spokesman for the Ministry of Industry, Science and Technologies said on Tuesday.
Russia will put up for the tender its MI-17-1V Hip helicopter, produced by the Kazan helicopter plant. The aircraft successfully passed pre-tender tests in Greece early this year and has recently been exhibited at the Defendory 2000 arms show in Athens.
MI-17-1V is made on the basis of the famous MI-8T Hip helicopter. It is the world's only aircraft of this class capable of airlifting up to 5t of cargo or up to 30 airborne troops. Its maximum take-off weight is 13t, static ceiling 4,400 metres, range 590km.
The helicopter is currently exported to India. Under a contract signed in May this year, 40 MI-17-1Vs will be shipped to the customer. Prior to that, the helicopter was supplied to Indonesia.
The Russian aircraft is expected to compete with UH-60 Black Hawk of the United States and AS.532 Cougar of the French-German consortium Eurocopter.