AMMAN -- Jordan and Russia signed an agreement on Tuesday to set up a joint venture for manufacturing KA-226 helicopters in Jordan.
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, certified under AP-29 airworthiness rules aligned with FAR 29.
During a press conference on Tuesday following the inauguration of the Special Operations Forces Exhibition 2006 (SOFEX), OPK Oboronprom JSC General Director Denis Manturov said that under the licence agreement, the OPK Oboronprom will authorise the joint venture to produce and then sell the KA-226s in Jordan and other countries in the region.
The joint venture will also be entitled to overhaul and repair KA-226s and procure its spare parts.
"We chose Jordan as the venue for this projects due to the country's importance in the Middle East at various levels," Manturov told The Jordan Times.
"The joint venture is an important step towards expanding Russian presence at 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 undemanding rotorcraft designed to best fit the region," he added. "I am convinced that new KA-226 helicopter will be highly appreciated by the Middle East region's customers."
Commending the deal, Majdi Yacoub, managing director of Orangeville Consultants Inc., and acting managing director of the new joint venture, OPK "Oboronprom" Middle East, said: "The formation of Oboronprom Middle East here in Jordan is highly important in highlighting the position of the Kingdom as a central hub and entry point to the Middle East."
"Jordan is an emerging hub for aviation manufacturing and development as we have a clear understanding of the region's needs and approach," he added.
According to Yacoub, the final designs for the plant are ready.
"I am delighted to welcome our partners to SOFEX and look forward to working closely with them to establish the full range of our services from manufacturing and maintenance, through to servicing and pilot training for Oboronprom subsidiary products in the Middle East," Yacoub said.
The Oboronprom Middle East will aim at not only manufacturing the KA-226s but also at establishing 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 the regional customers with accessible helicopter training. The regional Sales and Marketing Department of Oboronprom Middle East will promote all the products manufactured by Oboronprom and its subsidiaries in the Middle East.
The parties agreed to carry out joint market researches 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.
By Mohammad Ghazal
© Jordan Times 2006
