An RS-18 Stiletto intercontinental ballistic missile silo

(RIA Novosti / Sergey Kazakh)

27 April, 2011, Russia Today

A new control system being installed by the Russian military will allow the fast automatic retargeting of strategic missiles in silos directly from command center. The triple-backup communication lines can survive even a full-scale nuclear attack. The system, which recently received government approval, is now being installed by the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, Colonel Vadim Koval, the Army spokesman said on Wednesday. He did not elaborate on when the process is scheduled to be complete. It is the fourth generation of the system. In addition to traditional functions like communicating orders, reports and controlling the status of missiles, the new version allows automated change of flight plans. The retargeting does not require on-site human assistance and can be done despite enemy interference up to and including a nuclear attack, the military official said. All communication lines have several back-up options including satellite, radio and wired lines. The system also has a precise automatic self-diagnosis function, which allows fast and reliable maintenance. The upgrade is being done to keep up with the new weapon systems developed for the Strategic Missile Forces as well as to improve the overall combat readiness of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.The Russian military is undergoing a major overhaul, with more than $700 billion of budget money set to be spent over a decade for procurement of new weapons. Development plans for the Strategic Missile Forces include the deployment of RS-24 Yars mobile missiles and construction of a new silo-based missile to replace the R-36M Voevoda currently on duty.

MOSCOW, April 27 (RIA Novosti)

Russia has successfully test-fired the Sineva submarine-launched ballistic missile from a Delta-IV class submarine, a defense ministry spokesman said. The missile, lauched from the Yekaterinburg submarine, hit the designated target on time, the source said. The RSM-54 Sineva (NATO codename SS-N-23 Skiff) is a third-generation liquid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile that entered service with the Russian Navy in July 2007. It has a maximum range of over 10,000 km and can carry four to 10 nuclear warheads, depending on the modification. The last Sineva test launch was held in October 2010. The Russian Navy has seven Delta-IV class submarines in service. They are all deployed in the Northern Fleet.

2011-04-25 English.news.cn

MOSCOW, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 90 types of new weaponry will be tested in 2011, Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. The weapons include Iskander-M, S-300, S-400, Tor-M2 and Buk missile systems, Panzir-S anti-aircraft missile-and-cannon complex, Smerch missile volley-fire system, as well as intercontinental ballistic missiles, Interfax news agency reported. According to the ministry, the tests will be held in the Kapustin Yar testing range in Astrakhan region. Some 350 missile launches have been conducted from Kapustin Yar last year in the interests of Russian, Algerian, Azerbaijani, Belarussian, Vietnamese, Venezuelan and Myanmar armed forces, the ministry said.

April 25, 2011: STRATEGY PAGE

Russia is rebuilding its Cold War era helicopter industry. The first move is putting all Russian helicopter companies into one firm; Russian Helicopters. To accomplish this, the government bought   most of the shares in these companies. Thus Russian Helicopters now owns 75 percent of Rostvertol, 72 percent of Mil Moscow, 99.8 percent of Kamov, 60 percent of Stupino Machine Production, 75 percent of Ulan-Ude Aviation, 66 percent of Kazan Helicopters, 100 percent of Kumertau Aviation, 81 percent of Reductor-PM and 75 percent of Progress Arsenyev Aviation. As part of this effort, the Russian military is ordering more helicopters, new designs are being developed and export sales are aggressively pursued. Russian helicopters are back as a powerful international brand.

Total annual production of all these companies had collapsed to less than a hundred helicopters in the 1990s, mostly for export. Four years ago, annual production passed a hundred again, and it continues to grow, but not enough to keep all these firms solvent. Many have been staying alive by producing spare parts and refurbishing older aircraft. Thousands of aircraft produced by these companies are still in service, and they needed spares, upgrades and maintenance services. But now there are more new models coming out, Russian armed forces is buying again, and the export market is booming.

For example, four years ago, Russia decided to replace its 250 Mi-24 helicopter gunships with 300 of the more recent Mi-28s. The Mi-24 is a twelve ton chopper based on the Mi-8/17 transport. The U.S. did the same thing with the AH-1, developing it from the UH-1 "Huey." But rather than adopt the two seater (one pilot behind the other) approach of the AH-1 and AH-64 Apache, the Mi-24 could still carry troops or cargo in the back, and was not as nimble as the AH-1. The 11 ton Mi-28 looks more like the AH-64. That's because, by the end of the 1960s, the Russians realized that the AH-1 design was superior.

For several years, there has been intense completion, to decide which of its two new helicopter gunship designs (the Ka-50 and Mi-28N) to standardize on. The 2007 decision settled the matter. About 50 Mi-28s were bought in the next three years, with all 300 in service within five years.

The Mi-28N is a more capable helicopter, costing about the same as the earlier AH-64A ($15 million each). The Russians know that their weapons sell much better when a rock bottom price is offered. The Mi-28N "Night Hunter" is an all weather; night attack version of the 1980s era Mi-28A, with added FLIR (night vision sensor), night fighting optics and a two man crew. The basic Mi-28 is a 11.6 ton helicopter that can carry 1.6 tons of rockets and missiles. The aircraft also has a 30mm cannon. The cockpits are armored, and the helicopter has missile countermeasures (chaff and flares), GPS, head up display, laser designator and other gadgets. The Mi-28N has a top speed of 300 kilometers an hour and a one way range of 1,100 kilometers. It can carry up to 16 anti-tank missiles (each with a range of up to eight kilometers). The helicopter can also carry 80mm rockets, bombs or fuel for additional range. The Mi-28 has been around in small quantities for two decades, but the Mi-28N is the most advanced model, on a par with the American AH-64D gunship (which is a little lighter.) The first version of the Mi-28N was shown in 1996, although the manufacturer, Mil, wasn't ready to offer for sale until 2004.

Another market niche that Russia has always been strong on is heavy lift models. Thus the Mi-26 Halo, hauling 20 tons only 550 kilometers or 15 tons for 900 kilometers, is being built again. Recently, a new model, the Mi-26T2 made its first flight. Russia has also continued production of the Mi-24, as the export-oriented Mi-35M. This is the Mi-24 with a lot of the electronics, engines and other features of the Mi-28.

MOSCOW, April 23 (RIA Novosti)

Russia will never give up its naval base in Ukraine's port of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, ex-commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Adm. Igor Kasatonov said. Russia's Black Sea Fleet is stationed in Crimea under a lease agreement with Ukraine. On April 21, 2010, Moscow and Kiev signed a deal extending the lease on the fleet's base in Sevastopol for 25 years after the current lease expires in 2017. "The year 2042 is not the final date of the Black Sea Fleet's presence in Crimea. The Russian Navy will stay in Sevastopol forever," Kasatonov said in a recent interview with the Kiev-based Expert magazine. "Russia will never give up either Sevastopol or the Kuril Islands," the admiral said, adding that the naval base in Sevastopol played the utmost strategic role in the protection of Russia's southwestern border. Kasatonov said that the Black Sea Fleet must be equipped with advanced weaponry as soon as possible to counter effectively the existing and emerging global threats. At present, the Black Sea Fleet has about 40 operational vessels, including a single diesel-electric submarine, but most of them are slated for decommissioning. Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said last year that the fleet would be reinforced with 15 new combat ships and diesel-electric submarines by 2020, and could become a formidable force by 2035.

missiles sol-air S-400 Triumph

ACHOULOUK (Volga), 20 avril - RIA Novosti

L'Armée de l'air russe sera dotée de missiles sol-air S-500 en 2015, a déclaré mercredi le chef des Troupes de DCA russes Sergueï Popov sur le polygone d'Achoulouk, non loin d'Astrakhan (Volga). "Ces missiles doivent être livrés à l'armée en 2015 selon Valeri Garbouz, constructeur général adjoint du bureau d'études Almaz-Anteï", a indiqué le général Popov qui assiste aux exercices d'envergure des armées de l'air et des forces de DCA russes, biélorusses et kazakhes dans la région d'Astrakhan. Les concepteurs du missile "tiennent compte des armes modernes créées par d'autres Etats et capables de porter des frappes dans l'air et dans l'espace", a ajouté le général. Le chef du commandement opérationnel et stratégique des forces aérospatiales russes, Valeri Ivanov, a annoncé à la mi-février, que la production des missiles S-500 en série serait lancée en 2014. Selon lui, les missiles S-500 peuvent opérer à 40 ou 50 kilomètres d'altitude. Le général a rappelé que les missiles S-400, actuellement en service, étaient 20% plus efficaces que leurs prédécesseurs S-300, mais a refusé de comparer les S-400 et les S-500.

April 20, 2011: STRATEGY PAGE

With the growing oil and natural gas discoveries along Russia's northern border, the government has ordered the formation of a special brigade of arctic troops to patrol the vast region, and be ready to deal with any problems that might require military force up there. The 8,000 troops in the Arctic Brigade will be stationed in the Kola Peninsula, near the borders with Finland and Norway. The Kola Peninsula has long contained key air, naval and army bases. The new brigade will be ready for duty by the end of the year.

Russia has gone to other arctic military powers for ideas, and the best equipment available. This is part of a trend in Russia, to seek new military equipment wherever it can be found, and not depend on the, often second-rate, stuff produced by Russian defense firms. The brigade will be air mobile, and will possess vehicles that can move over snow and ice. Many of the communications will be satellite based, and everything will be able to handle the extreme cold found along Russia's northern coast.

All Arctic nations have specialized units like this, which often contain a large proportion of tribal peoples long native to the Arctic. The United States, for example, has a Winter Warfare School in Alaska, and a reserve brigade there organized and trained to deal with situations in the vast Alaskan backcountry. Canada also has an Arctic Warfare School, and troops recruited from native (Aleut/Eskimo/First People. Etc) populations. Finland has a similar system, and now Russia is apparently seeking to implement something similar.

MOSCOW, April 20 (RIA Novosti)

Russia will double the production of ballistic missile systems from 2013, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in his annual address to parliament on Wednesday. "The Armed Forces will receive new strategic and tactical missile systems, such as RS-24 Yars, Bulava and Iskander M," Putin said, adding that the production of these ballistic missile systems must be doubled from 2013. Speaking to defense sector officials in Siberia in March, Putin said Russia would invest 77 billion rubles ($2.6 bln) in the production of ballistic missiles in line with a state program on the defense sector modernization until 2020. Missile manufacturers, including a missile production plant in Votkinsk, will receive 15 billion rubles ($500 mln) in the next three years for the development of production capacity, the prime minister said in March. "The financing will gradually increase in the future," Putin added.

19.04.2011 french.peopledaily.com.cn

La Russie et l'OTAN pourraient approuver un document concernant la coopération bilatérale sur le système de défense anti-missile (DAM) en juin, a annoncé lundi un officiel russe. Lors d'une conférence de presse vidéo, le représentant russe auprès de l'OTAN, Dmitry Rogozin, a déclaré que la prochaine réunion des ministres de la Défense du Conseil Russie-OTAN était prévue pour le 9 juin, date à laquelle les principes politiques de la coopération seraient discutés. "Le système DAM européen permet à la Russie et à l'OTAN de faire des affaires dans les questions conjointes de défense", a déclaré M. Rogozin. Le diplomate a également souligné que l'OTAN et la Russie devraient abandonner la course militaire lors de la mise en place du cadre commun européen du DAM. D'après M. Rogozin, les représentants de Russie et de l'OTAN ont déjà réussi à ajouter le point concernant les menaces militaires au programme de la réunion de juin. Moscou s'est longtemps opposé au déploiement des installations de défense anti-missile près de ses frontières, déclarant qu'elles seraient une menace sécuritaire pour le pays et perturberaient l'équilibre stratégique des forces en Europe. La Russie a accepté de coopérer avec le nouveau programme de défense anti-missile de l'OTAN en novembre. Egalement lors de la conférence, M. Rogozin a appelé l'OTAN à être responsable devant le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU pour ses opérations en Libye et a mis en garde que la participation de l'OTAN dans le pays nord-africain pourrait compliquer la coopération de l'alliance avec Moscou. Les différentes approches des troubles politiques en Libye sont un point de discorde majeur entre la Russie et l'OTAN, a ajouté M. Rogozin, soulignant qu'une "crise politique grave au sein de l'Union européenne menace".

April 19, 2011 defpro.com

On 18 April, about 50 representatives of 27 OSCE member states (Belgium, Hungary, Germany, Georgia, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Great Britain, the USA, Ukraine, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden and Estonia) have arrived in Belarus under the 1999 Vienna Document of the Negotiations on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. According to the agenda, the representatives of the Belarusian Defence Ministry and the General Staff will hold briefings before the representatives of the foreign states. On 20-21 April, the OSCE representatives will visit the 61st fighter airbase and 11th independent mechanised brigade. The foreign guests will attend briefings on the tasks and current activities of these military units, familiarise themselves with the main samples of the armament and military equipment and meet with the commanders and personnel of the units.

MOSCOW, April 19 (RIA Novosti)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has sacked the senior Navy official who was in charge of talks with France over the purchase of Mistral-class warships. The Russian Defense Ministry says the dismissal of Vice Admiral Nikolai Borisov is not linked with the Mistral deal, which has raised concerns among France's NATO allies. Borisov was forced out for "internal reasons," a Defense Ministry source told RIA Novosti. The estimated $1.5 billion deal, which has been on the cards for months, came close to collapse last year over how much technology France was prepared to share with Russia. An inter-goverment agreement was reached in France in January, but no contract has yet been signed. Under the agreement, Russia and France will co-build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers at France's shipbuilding yard at Saint Nazaire, while another two Mistrals will be built in Russia's St. Petersburg. Mistral-class amphibious assault ships are capable of carrying up to 16 helicopters, four landing craft and 450 soldiers.

18.04.2011 — Analytique, par Vladimir Terletsky – RusBusinessNews

Le gouvernement russe a décidé de prélever une partie des bénéfices reçus en 2010 par les entreprises publiques du secteur militaro-spatial du pays. Cette décision a fortement étonné les experts. Ils ont déclaré au correspondant de "RusBusinessNews" que l'adoption du nouveau programme russe d'armements pour 2020, dans lequel une place importante est accordée à la question de l'armement et du nucléaire, n'est pas du tout compatible avec le retrait de moyens financiers aux producteurs. Personne au monde ne peut réussir à construire un système fiable pour assurer la sécurité d'un pays avec seulement ''trois kopecks''.

L'Agence fédérale spatiale russe (Roscosomos) a obligé l'entreprise publique fédérale "NPO Avtomatiki", qui s'occupe de la conception et de l'élaboration de systèmes de direction pour les missiles, à transférer à partir de l'année 2011 25 % de ses bénéfices nets au Trésor public. Jusqu'à présent, la "redevance" budgétaire ne s'élevait pas à plus de 1 % du chiffre d'affaires de l'entreprise, soit environ 300 000 roubles. La ponction de 7.5 millions de roubles sur les bénéfices de l'année précédente, a été très porté un coup à la Direction de l'entreprise. Selon elle, le groupement de recherche et de production réalise un grand travail de modernisation de sa production et de formation de jeunes effectifs, ce qui nécessite d'importants moyens. La décision du cabinet des ministres de Vladimir Poutine, au fond, met une croix sur le rééquipement technique de "NPO Avtomatiki".

La directive de l'Agence spatiale russe a soulevé des questions non seulement au sein des entreprises du complexe militario-industriel, mais aussi chez les analystes. L'expert du Centre d'analyse des stratégies et des technologies Andreï Frolov ne comprend pas pourquoi il faudrait prélever une part des bénéfices nets des entreprises publiques, alors même que dans le budget de l'État commence à apparaître des profits. Cependant, l'expert reste sceptique quant aux hypothèses selon lesquelles les entreprises de l'Agence spatiale russe auraient ainsi décidé de punir les entreprises d'Etat pour les mauvais lancement des satellites ces six derniers mois: il s'agirait vraiment là d'une réaction inadaptée.

L'Agence spatiale russe a refusé d'expliquer la pression financière exercée sur "NPO Avtomatiki". L'attaché de presse de l'Agence, Alexandre Vorobiev, a déclaré à "RusBusinessNews": "Nous ne commentons pas les rumeurs. Envoyez-nous le document prouvant l'existence de prélèvements sur une part des bénéfices et alors nous accepterons de discuter".

Cependant Viacheslav Mikotine, Directeur adjoint en charge de la gestion et des finances de l'entreprise "NPO Avtomatiki", a confirmé qu'il ne s'agissait pas du tout de rumeurs. D'après lui, cette directive proviendrait du gouvernement, et l'Agence spatiale russe ne ferait que la retransmettre. L'entreprise ne veut pas faire de bruit, mais tente de lutter pour sa survie financière.

À son tour, le Directeur de l'Institut des problèmes de la mondialisation Mikhaïl Deliaguine a rappelé au correspondant de "RusBusinessNews" que le propriétaire de l'entreprise (dans le cas présent l'État) a le droit de disposer des bénéfices nets comme il l'entend. Et, d'après lui, dans certains cas il est nécessaire d'en prélever une partie, notamment lorsqu'elle est dépensée pour le paiement de primes et bonus aux top managers.

Le paradoxe réside dans le fait que les industriels ne peuvent parfois pas recevoir l'argent gagné de la part du budget fédéral. L'union des entreprises des industries de la défense de la région de Sverdlovsk écrit régulièrement des lettres au gouvernement russe sur la nécessité de rembourser les arriérés de paiement pour les commandes d'État déjà accomplies. Le Directeur exécutif de l'Union, Vladimir Koukarsky, a déclaré à "RusBusinessNews" que récemment avait eu lieu une rencontre des chefs des entreprises avec l'adjoint au Ministre de la défense de la Fédération de Russie, Vladimir Popovkine, ce dernier ayant promis de résoudre rapidement le problème des dettes de l'année précédente et des commandes de l'État pour l'année 2011.

Jusqu'ici, l'objet du différend entre les industriels et les militaires portait sur les prix de la production. Les années précédentes, le Ministère de la Défense, choqué de l'augmentation constante et progressive des prix de l'armement et de l'équipement militaire, avait proposé de limiter la rentabilité des entreprises du complexe militaro-industriel à 15-25%, et d'établir le coefficient de déflation en tenant compte de leurs dépenses à 10%. Les producteurs espéraient que l'État aspirerait ainsi à résoudre le problème de la réduction du coût de l'armement aux dépends des constructeurs de machines-outils. De simples calculs montrent que dans un contexte de hausse des prix des ressources énergétiques de 15-19% par an, l'inflation industrielle ne peut pas s'élever à 10 %. Elle est en réalité considérablement plus élevée : par exemple, pour la SA "NPL" Ouralwagonzavod" les spécialistes ont proposé d'établir en 2010 le coefficient de déflation à 25%.

Les experts nomment quelques raisons obligeant les fonctionnaires à insister pour une inflation à 10%. L'une d'entre elles réside dans l'imperfection de la loi sur les marchés publics, permettant de gagner des appels d'offres pour la livraison de l'armement et de l'équipement technique et militaire aux compagnies "de poche" des fonctionnaires, qui poursuivant le dessin de faire du profit, mettent le couteau sous la gorge aux usines en réduisant leurs prix et en maintenant une inflation basse.

La deuxième raison amenant à une mutilation de la formation des prix en Russie, se trouve dans les particularités de l'économie nationale. Les principaux investisseurs et les sources de bénéfices sont de grandes compagnies d'État de type monopolistique. Elles ont acquis une multitude de filiales dans lesquelles il est pratiquement impossible d'effectuer une analyse réelle des dépenses. L'opacité et l'inefficacité des monopoles conduisent à une baisse de leur compétitivité sur les marchés extérieurs. A titre d'exemple, la SA "Gazprom" n'arrive pas aujourd'hui à trouver un accord sur les livraisons de gaz naturel en Asie du Sud-est, région très importante du point de vue géopolitique. La Chine est prête à acheter du combustible à moins de 165 dollars pour 1000 mètres cube, or "Gazprom" affirme que ses ventes ne deviennent rentables qu'à partir de 220 dollars. Les experts n'excluent pas qu'au final la compagnie puisse faire des concessions en acceptant de vendre son gaz plus bas que le prix de revient, comme l'a fait en son temps la SA "Inter RAO UES" en acceptant de vendre à la Chine son énergie électrique. La compagnie avait alors reporté ses pertes sur les consommateurs russes - ce que fera probablement "Gazprom" en augmentant une fois de plus les prix de sa production sur le marché intérieur.

Pour les experts il est évident que, n'ayant pas réussi à rendre ces monopoles transparents et ni à modifier la procédure des commandes publiques, l'État ne pourra jamais mettre un frein à la hausse des prix de l'armement, et la formation des prix par directives risque de détruire l'industrie militaire. Selon les managers, la plupart des entreprises du complexe militaro-industriel manquent terriblement de moyens pour leurs travaux de recherche et de développement, ce qui prédétermine le retard de la Russie sur ses concurrents.

L'État, au lieu de résoudre la question de l'investissement dans les travaux de recherche et de développement, préfère retirer une part des bénéfices aux quelques entreprises qui demeurent sur le marché. Avec quels moyens le complexe militario-industriel russe élaborera-t-il et produira-t-il les nouveaux équipements attendus par l'armée en 2020? Cela reste une énigme.

Apr 15, 2011 By Maxim Pyadushkin AviationWeek.com

MOSCOW — Helicopter orders from the Russian military are up and commitments for new types are on the horizon, marking a stark turnaround from the days when military orders were unable to sustain Russia’s domestic manufacturing industry.

Now, helicopter manufacturer Rostvertol’s export orders are balanced with growing procurement from the Russian air force, with long-term growth on the horizon. In addition to continued production of Mi-28s at the Rostov-on-Don production site, the military plans to launch a modernized Mi-28NM by 2015, Rostvertol CEO Boris Slyusar tells Aviation Week.

Rostvertol has resumed production of Mi-26 heavy transports for the air force. The first three aircraft already are in the final stages of completion. According to Slyusar, the procurement will last until 2015. For now the military has ordered the basic Mi-26T version, but the company hopes to entice the customer into acquiring the modernized Mi-26T2. The Mi-26T2 was developed to take part in the Indian defense ministry’s competition for 15 heavy-lift rotorcraft. It features a new glass cockpit and avionics suite designed to increase commonality with the Mi-28. Rostvertol officials say an Indian evaluation team visited the facility last week to test the first Mi-26T2 prototype now in factory flight trials. The manufacturer also plans to offer the new modifications to civil operators and hopes to complete all necessary testing within two years. The Mi-28NM is part of larger air force modernization wave. Lt. Gen. Igor Sadofyev, air force deputy commander, tells RIA Novosti that the military expects to receive about 100 new helicopters this year, including Mil Mi-28 and Kamov Ka-52 attack helicopters as well as Mi-8 transports and Ansat light training rotorcraft. But this list is likely to grow before all is said and done.

This month, Rostvertol showed off the first batch of Mil Mi-35M attack helicopters being assembled for the Russian air force. The six rotorcraft are in final assembly, while the first of them is already conducting onboard system checks. First deliveries are still planned for this year, Slyusar says. The order for 22 Mi-35Ms was placed by the Russian military in June 2010. These helicopters will supplement ongoing deliveries of Mi-28Ns, chosen earlier by the military as the main rotorcraft for battlefield fire support. The Mi-35M is a further development of the Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter and was initially designed exclusively for export. The main advantage of the Mi-35M is that it incorporates the latest technologies of the Mi-28N, such as the more powerful VK-2500 turboshaft engine, and composite main rotor blades as well as an X-shaped tail rotor. The Mi-35M already has had some export successes. In 2006-2008, 10 rotorcraft were delivered to Venezuela, while in 2009-2010 Brazil received the first six of 12 aircraft ordered. Rostvertol already has assembled three more Mi-35Ms for Brazil, but their delivery is in limbo owing to the country’s defense budget cuts.

According to Russian Helicopters, Rostvertol revenues totaled $500 million in 2010. Slyusar would not disclose the number of helicopters delivered last year, but noted the growth amounted to 30% compared to 2009 results. He says his facility plans to reach annual revenues of $1 billion by 2015. On April 12, Russian Helicopters announced plans to raise $500 million from an initial public offering to be conducted in Moscow and London. The funds raised will pay down debt and buy out minority interests in the company’s subsidiaries. Russian Helicopters was set up in 2007 and now controls all Russian helicopter manufacturers. In 2010 the holding delivered 214 helicopters, 31 more than in 2009, while its revenue amounted to $2.2 billion, a 42% increase from the previous year.