Garry

I studied the helicopters issue for couple of month. From what I understand Russian helicopters are really best for most of foreign armies due to its best price/capabilities. This has exception for helicopters super light helicopters with payloads less than 1 ton.... here western peices are much cheaper, proven and durable.....

Comparison

Mi-8/Mi-17 costs around $4.5-5.5mln but is really superior to S-92 at $15.5mln.... which costs $900/hour of direct maintainance costs... while my friend from airline told me that their very old Mi-8 has less than $300. On capabilities Mi-17 stands much better... take off weight is slightly more.... service ceiling is 1.5km higher.... cruise speed is higher with S-92 (258km/h vs 230 km/h with Mi-17) same as range (823km vs 715 km).

However in general who needs to pay 10mln more and they many more in mantainance to have S-92 when Mi-17 is available. Maybe this is why Czecks, Pols decided to buy Russian helos after they got to NATO...... This is also the reason why new Iraqi army is being supplied with 34 new Mi-17?
http://www.kazanhelicopters.com:8080...ters/mi17/tech
http://www.sikorsky.com/file/popup/0,3038,827,00.pdf

Mi-38 stands much beter comparison with any of its competitors...
http://www.kazanhelicopters.com:8080...licopters/mi38

Mi-24 (called Hind) is quite a durable combat/transport helo.... no comparisons..... western alternatives are either combat or transport.


Ka-50-2 will definetelly win Turkish tender again..... despite political pressure.

ANSAT starts its exporting life with first 6 being delivered to South Korea.... orders already got from other asian markets. Good buy at just $2.5mln....
http://www.kazanhelicopters.com:8080...ers/ansat/tech

NOW ALL THIS IS BEING UNITED INTO A ONE COMPANY WHICH WILL SELL THEM GLOBALLY.

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There is alternative. I am missing something and there is something which would make western alternatives be more competitive....