Aircraft
New Heavy Helicopter Deal Symbolizes Closer Russia-China Ties
Ceremony to seal joint development is witnessed by presidents of both countries.
An Mi-26 led the flypast over the Victory Day parade in Moscow, followed by Mi-17s. Russia and China will jointly develop a successor heavy-lift helicopter. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov)
An Mi-26 led the flypast over the Victory Day parade in Moscow, followed by Mi-17s. Russia and China will jointly develop a successor heavy-lift helicopter. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov)

Russian Helicopters and Avic signed a breakthrough deal on May 8 for joint development of the Advanced Heavy Lift (AHL) helicopter. The ceremony took place in the Kremlin and was witnessed by President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jingping, who was in Moscow for the parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. In a sign of closer ties between Russia and China, a column of PLA servicemen marched in the parade in Red Square for the first time, and Putin referred to Xi as “our great friend,” noting that “our counties are in the period of a new level of partnership.”

Loading…