AMMAN -- Construction of a joint Jordanian-Russian project for manufacturing KA-226 helicopters in the Kingdom is expected to start mid-2007.
The facility will be built over 400 dunums within the borders of Queen Alia International Airport, according to an official of the new joint venture, called OPK Oboronprom Middle East.
During the Special Operations Forces Exhibition 2006 (SOFEX) in March last year, the parent company OPK Oboronprom JSC signed a licence agreement with Jordan under which the the joint venture is authorised to produce and then sell the KA-226s in Jordan and other countries in the region.
The KA-226 is a light helicopter. Its modular design enables helicopter use in various configurations: Passenger, transport, search-and-rescue, emergency medical services, patrol and fire-fighting.
The helicopter meets international standards on reliability, service life limits, noise and flight safety and is certified under AP-29 airworthiness rules aligned with FAR 29.
The official said the registration of the company was in the final stages and is expected to be completed within two weeks, noting that the company was given the approval from the Prime Ministry and the Free Zones Corporation.
He added that the Jordan Armed Forces, which owns the land, is working on preparing the infrastructure for the plant, noting that the venture is expected to be completed within a year from the date of starting construction
The joint venture will be able to overhaul and repair KA-226s and procure its spare parts.
The official told The Jordan Times that the plan does not only seek to manufacture the KA-226s but also to set up a service centre for Oboronprom's helicopter manufacturing subsidiaries to maintain the products in the region.
A pilot and technician training centre will also be set up to provide regional customers with accessible helicopter training, he added.
The regional sales and marketing department of Oboronprom Middle East will promote all products manufactured by Oboronprom and its subsidiaries in the Middle East.
The parties agreed to carry out joint market research to estimate the possible volume of KA-226 helicopters sales in the Jordanian market and other countries of the region. Production funding will commence once a solid order for helicopters is placed.
OPK Oboronprom is a multi-sector production and investment group established in 2002. The corporation is the parent managing company of the helicopter holding, which includes "Mil" Moscow Helicopter Plant" JSC, "Kamov" JSC, among others.
Officials from OPK Oboronprom JSC said at the signing of the deal last year that Jordan was chosen as the venue for this projects due to the country's importance in the Middle East at various levels.
They added that the joint venture is an important step towards expanding Russian presence in the world aviation market. It is almost 50 years since Mil helicopters have been first shipped to the Middle East and Northern Africa and proved to be reliable and designed to best fit the region.
By Mohammad Ghazal
© Jordan Times 2007
