On May 18, 2023, an official ceremony was held at Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, where the Russian side handed over 18 Ansat light helicopters manufactured by Rostec State Corporation Russian Helicopters to the Zimbabwean authorities. The ceremony was attended by President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa and CEO of Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov.
The ceremony of the transfer to the authorities of Zimbabwe by the Russian side of 18 light Ansat helicopters manufactured by JSC Russian Helicopters of Rostec State Corporation. Harare, 18.05.2023 (c) JSC "Russian Helicopters"According to Zimbabwean media reports, 18 Ansat helicopters in the sanitary version and six intended for the Zimbabwe National Police were transferred.
In total, Zimbabwe signed a contract with the Russian side in 2022 for the purchase of 32 Ansat helicopters for a total of $ 320 million, with the remaining 14 helicopters planned for delivery to be delivered in a military version, and at least three of them will be performed for VIP transportation. This is the largest export contract for Ansat helicopters so far.
According to Sergey Chemezov's statement at the ceremony in Harare, "sixty Russian-made helicopters will be delivered to the Republic of Zimbabwe by 2025." Presumably, 28 of them belong to the Mi-17 type, and their deliveries have not yet begun.
The press release of Russian Helicopters JSC states that "the active development of cooperation between Russian Helicopters Holding and the Republic of Zimbabwe began in 2022. A number of contracts were signed for the supply of Mi-17 and Ansat civilian helicopters for key federal structures of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Rostec State Corporation, along with the supply of helicopter equipment, shares the successful experience of Russia, where the National Air Ambulance Service (NSSA) has been working effectively for many years."
Earlier in September 2022, the Russian side had already transferred one Ansat ambulance helicopter to Zimbabwe (apparently free of charge, Zimbabwean registration number ZW-001). His transfer took place then during the first visit of Sergey Chemezov to Zimbabwe for the celebrations on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, during which, apparently, these contracts for 60 Mi-17 and Ansat helicopters were signed.
As reported by the web resource ATO.ru According to the Federal Air Transport Agency, at the beginning of May 2023, 54 Ansats were operated in Russia by eight helicopter operators. Most of the helicopters of this model (30 units) are in the fleet of the National Air Ambulance Service (NSSA), created in 2017 on the initiative of Rostec. In total, the NSSA ordered 37 Ansats and another 29 Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters. It is noteworthy that the medical "Ansats" delivered in Zimbabwe had a color that repeated the livery of the NSSA helicopters.
Currently, Ansat helicopters are equipped with two Canadian Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207K engines. Their supplies to Russia have been banned since 2022 by Western sanctions.
To replace the Canadian engine, the United Engine Corporation (UEC), part of Rostec, is developing a domestic VK-650V turboshaft engine. In mid-May, the UEC announced that the certification of VK-650V is expected in 2024. This year, the corporation will produce 10 prototypes of the new engine, four of which will be used for flight tests on the Ansat.
The ceremony of the transfer to the authorities of Zimbabwe by the Russian side of 18 light Ansat helicopters manufactured by JSC Russian Helicopters of Rostec State Corporation. Harare, 18.05.2023 (c) JSC "Russian Helicopters" and social networksVideo:
