Delivery of China's heavy-lift helicopter forecast for 2032

The joint Sino-Russian project to develop and build a 40-tonne helicopter is expected to deliver the first aircraft in 2032, Chinese state-owned newspaper Global Times reported on 10 March.

The paper quoted comments made by Wu Ximing, chief helicopter designer for the Aviation Industry of China (AVIC), who was speaking at a press conference given by Chinese legislators and political advisers in the field of aviation.

Chinese rotary-wing specialist Avicopter unveiled a revised model of its AHL helicopter concept at the 2017 China Helicopter Exposition, which ran from 14 to 17 September in Tianjin. The first platform resulting from the joint Sino-Russian project is expected to be delivered in 2032, according to Chinese state media. (Via FYJS website)

Wu commented that China “lacks experience in technologies related to the transmission system” and is looking to benefit from Russia’s knowledge gained through developing heavy lift helicopters, such as the 56-tonne Mi-26. Previous reports have indicated that the platform will be powered by Ukrainian Motor Sich JSC/Ivchenko-Progress AI-136T turboshaft engines.

Discussions and negotiations relating to the Advanced Heavy Lift (AHL) helicopter project have been under way for four years and announcements made at the China Helicopter Exposition in Tianjin in September 2017 stated that AVIC and Russian Helicopters had finalised the technical parameters for the project and that a contract would be signed by the end of 2017.

However, in November 2018 Russian state news agency TASS quoted Viktor Kladov, Rostec’s Director for International Co-operation and Regional Policy, as saying, “The negotiations have been completed. The sides are ready to sign a general contract”.