Muzhenko discusses opportunities of helicopters modernization for Ukrainian Armed Forces
Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko has discussed with OJSC Motor Sich senior managers the opportunity for modernizing and repairing existing helicopter equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Muzhenko stressed during his working visit to Zaporizhia on June 30 that the Armed Forces of Ukraine together with the manufacturing industry are now giving priority to the modernization of the existing fleet of helicopters. Motor Sich specializes in engines, as the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported on Friday.
"We have seen the potential of Motor Sich. It has a powerful industrial base and its team is able to resolve all the issues, including the construction of Ukrainian helicopters. There are certain pilot projects in this direction and appropriate technical solutions. The company is fully capable to meet the demands for helicopters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Muzhenko said.
He noted that Ukrainian industry carefully takes into account comments and suggestions on improving helicopters that come from army pilots based on the experience gained during the military operations.
Muzhenko said today there is a well-organized cooperation between the Motor Sich company and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In turn, Motor Sich President and Designer General Viacheslav Bohuslayev confirmed the company's technology readiness to fully meet the needs of the armed forces in helicopters.
"We are doing a kind of report for the General Staff and demonstrating what we are able to do at present time and in the future. We want to create a precondition for the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so that our helicopters could fly faster, higher and farther. We need to have good engines for this purpose and that's what we are engaged in now, the company's head Bohuslayev stressed.
He recalled that Mi-2 helicopter, which was modernized by the enterprise, can climb 7 km, while the Mi-8 is capable of reaching an altitude of 9 km 155 m in the sky.
"This is a world record, which is registered in the Guinness World Records Book," Bohuslayev said.
