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Paris (UPI) Oct 29, 2010 Eurocopter has signed two strategic agreements with Kazakhstan aimed at the joint production of EC145 helicopters. Under the agreements, the first deal also includes the maintenance and training activities required to support EC 145 operations throughout a new trade zone created between Kazakhstan, Russia Belarus and most of the central Asia region. The second deal concerns a memorandum of understanding between the country's Defense Ministry and EADS, Eurocopter's parent company, and the commitment to proceed with purchases of EC145. Both agreements were endorsed in Paris this week during the visit of Kazak President Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev to France. Officials from both sides refrained to elaborate on other details of the deal but military experts say an order of 45 twin-engine EC145s have been placed for the next six years. "Eurocopter, together with its joint venture partner Kazakhstan Engineering, will develop a major aeronautical industry capability in Kazakhstan, thereby creating several hundreds of highly qualified jobs," said Eurocopter President and Chief Executive Officer Lutz Bertling. "This project will foster helicopter usage in Kazakhstan ... [and it] positions Eurocopter for future business development in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Russia and Belarus, providing helicopters that are well tailored for applications in the oil and gas, parapublic and government sectors, as well as for other applications." The deals signaled Kazakhstan's determination to continue bolstering its military and defense industries, especially the country's new elite airborne unit. It wasn't immediately clear how much the government of Kazakhstan was allocating for the purchase and production of the advanced helicopters. The EC145 ranks top in its class of medium-sized, twin-engine helicopters. "This multi-mission helicopter brings together Eurocopter's latest developments in advanced cockpit design, avionics and rotor system," Defense Talk reported. "It is also perfectly adapted for demanding environments, especially in very low temperatures that can be found in Kazakhstan." To date, 400 EC145s have been sold worldwide. The production and customization of EC145s are expected to take place in Astana with the joint operational company established legally by the end of the year. Defense News reported that the helicopters to be created will be called KH145 and operational late 2011. The project will proceed as the initial batch of six EC 145s will be delivered in the coming year. Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related services. It employs more than 15,000 people.
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