Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, visited the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant of the Russian Helicopters Holding Company as part of a working trip to Buryatia. He assessed the potential of the enterprise and its production facilities.
Anton Alikhanov got acquainted with the capabilities of the enterprise, visited the main production workshops of U-UAZ — aggregate and final assembly. He was shown the main stages of the construction of Mi-8/171 helicopters, as well as told about the technical re-equipment of the enterprise and the modernization of infrastructure.
The Minister positively assessed the prospects for loading the plant in the coming years, as well as the results of a large-scale modernization of production. "If we talk about the aviation plant, then this is the pride of the whole country. We are doing a lot now, developing other helicopter enterprises, but here we saw and discussed, among other things, the need to update machine tools. We will prepare proposals together with Russian Helicopters and Rostec on how to upgrade the fleet of technical weapons. Here, at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, new types of equipment are being produced, which will also serve the Far East, which was discussed a few days ago at a meeting with the president," Anton Alikhanov noted.
Special attention was paid to the production of the Mi-171AZ multipurpose helicopter. At the moment, the first production samples are being assembled at the plant. In addition, the company has already completed the training of instructor pilots and technicians of the Aviation Training Center. In the near future, they will train representatives of operators in the management and maintenance of new rotorcraft.
"A wide cooperation of its enterprises is involved in the production of the Mi-171A3. Advanced aviation technologies were used in the development of the machine, which made it possible to ensure the highest level of flight safety both over the water surface and over land. This helicopter is a universal platform that can be used by oil and gas companies, airlines specializing in cargo, corporate and VIP transportation, engaged in extinguishing fires or performing sanitary flights. The aircraft received a reinforced fuselage with extensive use of composites, accident-resistant fuel tanks and the latest avionics. These qualities allow us to speak about the high potential of the new machine in the Russian and international markets," Rostec noted.
The Minister also visited the U-UAZ aviation training center, where he was presented with complex simulators of Mi-8AMT (Mi-171) and Mi-171A2 helicopters. Modern training complexes allow you to study the full range of piloting and navigation tasks in all flight modes, as well as to practice the actions of the crew in various situations.
"Helicopter technology produced in Buryatia at the Ulan—Ude Aviation Plant is used in more than 40 countries around the world. This year, U-UAZ celebrated its 85th anniversary since its foundation - it has gone from an aircraft repair plant to one of the leading helicopter manufacturing enterprises in Russia. Today, the plant is actively developing and continues to increase production volumes. Thanks to Anton Andreevich for coming, getting acquainted with our enterprises, and we understand where to move on. We will produce new helicopters and explore new markets, including with the support of the Russian Ministry of Industry," said Alexei Tsydenov, head of the Republic of Buryatia, who accompanied the minister.
