Russian MRO boost for Egyptian Air Force

The facility will be based at the Helwan Factory for Developed Industries (HFDI) plant just south of Cairo.
The necessary equipment was installed between 2015 and 2018, while key personnel underwent training at Russian Helicopters’ Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant.
“Over the past three years, in cooperation with our partners from HFDI, we have performed a tremendous job establishing the MRO centre for Russian-made rotorcraft at the factory’s facilities,” said Igor Chechikov, Russian Helicopters’ deputy director general for after-sales support.
Working with the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, the new MRO centre has already achieved ‘readiness’ status and has performed initial ‘pilot’ overhauls of an Mi-8T and an Mi-17-1V, with the aim of achieving certification later this year.
Mi-8s and Mi-17s are in service in large numbers in Egypt, providing a useful market for the new MRO. The type is also in service in Iraq and with other MENA air arms.
In future, the MRO may extend its services to the newer Mi-17V-5 variant.
“Egypt is a long-standing and strategically important partner for Rostec,” said Viktor Kladov, the company’s director for international cooperation and regional policy. “We cooperate in a wide range of areas.
“The helicopter industry and after-sales service of equipment are the key areas for our cooperation. Certification of the helicopter service centre in Egypt opens up new opportunities for expanding cooperation with local partners.”
Mi-8/17 helicopters, which are claimed by Rostec to be reliable and low-maintenance, remain in constant demand. They are capable of medevac and humanitarian missions, cargo and passenger transportation (including VIPs).
Military-transport Mi-8/17 helicopters are designed to transport service personnel and to carry cargo inside the cabin and on the external sling. These rotorcraft are employed for patrol or search-and-rescue operations and can also carry armament.