Russian Helicopters Receives Export License From Govt, Will Sell Military Products Outside Russia

Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, has received an export licence to sell a range of military products outside Russia, including spare parts, components and technical documentation.

The company may now also provide a full range of support services (technical maintenance, repairs, upgrades, etc.) and participate in joint ventures with non-Russian clients, and establish and equip service and maintenance facilities in other countries and train up foreign staff, according to a press release.

Russian Helicopters has also been granted permission to import military goods needed for its own manufacturing.

The approval was granted by the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), following Presidential Executive Order no. 232-rp issued on 21 June of this year.

Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev received the Export Licence from FSMTC Director Alexander Fomin at an official ceremony at Rostec's offices in Moscow today that was also attended by Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov and Rosoboronexport CEO Anatoly Isaykin.

"An export licence is not only a stamp of quality and recognition of the high level of trust that the state has in Russian Helicopters," said FSMTC Director Alexander Fomin. "It is also a down-payment that Russia's helicopter industry will warrant thanks to the high quality of their products and services."

"This is an important step for Russian Helicopters," said Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov. "An export licence will enable Russian Helicopters to strengthen its position in its core markets, and also to expand its global presence by bringing its after-sales care offering to new markets. If the company continues to be as successful as we expect, we will consider rolling out a similar licencing programme to other Rostec companies."

More than 5,500 Russian- and Soviet-built helicopters currently operate worldwide. From 2001 to 2014 Russian state arms export agency Rosobornexport delivered more than 740 new helicopters under contracts with 39 countries. Developing an efficient after-sales care system for these helicopters is a priority for Russian Helicopters.

Previously the company worked on such projects as a co-partner with Oboronprom. Supplies of military helicopters have traditionally fallen within the remit of Russian Helicopters' partner Rosoboronexport, responsible for exports and imports of a full range of finished military products.

The Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) is the federal body responsible for control and oversight of military and technical cooperation between Russia and foreign states.