Leonardo-Finmeccanica, Russian Helicopters and Rosneft have announced the signing of an agreement to commission an additional twenty AgustaWestland AW189 commercial helicopters from RNAircraft, a subsidiary of oil operator Rosneft. The new helicopters will be used for transport tasks.
Delivery of the first three machines is expected from 2018 from the Italian plant in Vergiate, while the remaining seventeen will be delivered by the HeliVert joint venture in Tomilino, in the Moscow region. These aircraft will add to the ten already ordered by RN-Aircraft in July 2015. Furthermore, as foreseen by the framework agreement signed in December 2014 and with the involvement of Russian Helicopters, a company of the Rostec Group, Rosneft plans to acquire additional helicopters by 2025, up to a total of 160 units.
In 2015, an agreement was also signed for a progressive reorganization of the HeliVert joint venture with the Russian Helicopters helicopter company, originally equal, with the entry of Rosneft with a share of 30%. Consequently, the shares in HeliVert will be distributed as follows: 40% for Leonardo Elicotteri, 30% for Russian Helicopters and 30% for Rosneft. Rosneft's entry into HeliVert is aimed at strengthening Leonardo-Finmeccanica's industrial collaboration with Russian partners and its commercial presence through the introduction on the Russian market of a new product, which has already enjoyed considerable success globally.
