Pakistan, Russia Discuss Service Center For Helicopters

Pakistan is discussing a technical service center for helicopters with Russia and also hopes to cooperate with Russia in the field of fighter aircraft engines in the near future.

“We are currently holding consultations about creating a technical service center for Russian helicopters, which would be engaged in maintenance and repair of helicopters. Pakistan has large number of Russian helicopters,” Victor Treasure, Director for International Cooperation and Regional Policy of the state corporation was quoted as saying by the news agency during the first day of the Dubai Airshow 2015.

"JF-17 Thunder has installed a Russian engine. Therefore, we are eyeing a partnership with the Russian engine manufacturer in the near future," a spokesman for the Pakistan aviation complex at the Dubai Airshow-2015 was quoted as saying to Ria Novosti Monday.

Pakistan is interested in training its engine specialists in Russia and expects Russian experts to participate in the modernizing engine repairs in Pakistan, he said.

JF-17 thunder an all-weather multi-role fighter aircraft jointly manufactured by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) uses Russian RD-93 engines.

Pakistan and Russia signed a deal for the sale of four Mi-35 ‘Hind-E’ attack helicopters to Pakistan in August this year and are currently in talks about Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets.