Russia, Italy to begin building joint helicopter assembling facility
MOSCOW. June 22. KAZINFORM The construction of a Russian-Italian joint helicopter assembling facility will begin on Tuesday in the town of Tomilino outside Moscow, manufacturer Russian Helicopters has said; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
Russia's Oboronprom Corporation and Italy's AgustaWestland signed an agreement to set up a joint venture to assemble AW139 helicopters in Russia in July 2008. First helicopters are expected to roll off the production line in 2012.
The Russian corporation earlier said the helicopters produced in Russia would be sold primarily in Russia and the CIS, although they would be marketed worldwide through AgustaWestland's international network.
AgustaWestland previously said the joint venture would meet growing demand and consolidate the company's foothold in the CIS market.
Oboronprom, a subsidiary of Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-run arms exporter, has said Russian helicopter manufacturers would gain access to new production technology and maintenance standards; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
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