Elbit Systems Ltd. [ESLT] won a five-year $110 million contract from an unspecific Asia-Pacific country for the upgrade and maintenance of Mi-17 helicopters, the company said Feb. 8.
The contract will have Elbit upgrade dozens of Mi-17s.
Mi-17 helicopters operated by the 2nd Wing of the Afghan National Army Air Force take off at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Feb. 23, 2013. (U.S. Army photo/Released)Mi-17 helicopters operated by the 2nd Wing of the Afghan National Army Air Force take off at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Feb. 23, 2013. (U.S. Army photo/Released)
“We are very pleased to have won this major helicopter upgrade project and for the opportunity to implement our unique and innovative avionic solutions,” Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, president and CEO of Elbit Systems, said in a statement.
He noted the company has completed and continues to perform many programs improving the operational capabilities of similar helicopter systems,
The Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter based off the Mi-8 Soviet helicopter airframe and is designated as the Hip in NATO.
“Since the “aging helicopter” market is growing rapidly and includes numerous Eastern platforms, we hope other customers will follow the selection of our modernization solutions,” Machlis added.