Rostec, Russia's defense industry conglomerate, is said to team up with the Aviation Industry of China (AVIC), a state-owned military-industry giant, in developing a new heavy-lift multipurpose helicopter series that could carry the weight of 40 metric tons.
The new helicopter named Advanced Heavy Lift is reported by the RT, Russia's international television network, to carry a 15-ton payload carrying it in a range of 630 kilometers at a speed capacity of 300 kilometers per hour.
Rostvertol's Mi-26 is known as one of the most powerful helicopters to have ever gone into a series of production. The series falls under the 56-ton category. The country is known to have technical expertise in helicopter transmission systems.
Reports are circulating that the new helicopter series will be based on the Mi-26 model which the manufacturer has just finished upgrading to be used by the Russian Air Force. The new series was designed primarily as a heavy-lift aerial vehicle to be used in transporting amphibious armored personnel carriers and mobile ballistic missiles to remote locations.
Victor Kladov, a Rostec representative, was quoted last month by the Russian News Agency saying that the state-backed defense and high tech enterprise is scheduled to sign its biggest contract for the century with AVIC and its partners on the development of the new helicopters following a series of talks.
The representative also revealed that more than 200 helicopters will be manufactured in China using Russia's core aviation technologies. The contract states that AVIC is entitled to make the peripheral design of the helicopter.
Helicopters that can carry a heavy load, like the Mi-26, play a vital role in emergency response. The helicopters can swiftly fly heavy cargo and vehicles that include artillery and armored vehicles without having the need for an airfield.
China's military need to increase the number of its big choppers as it increases the nation's preparedness in any military emergency and major natural disasters. The current helicopter squadron of the People's Liberation Army is composed of mainly medium-sized transporters like the z-9, z-20, and the Mi-17.
According to reports, in May 2008, China leased a number of Mi-26s to Russia to lift relief supplies and first-responders and injured civilians after the Wenchuan earthquake jolted the Sichuan province many parts of western China. Reports from Chinese media said that some of the helicopters were used to airlift heavy earth moving equipment to the greatly affected villages that are not accessible by foot.
