The Moscow Health Department has awarded a contract to Airbus Helicopters Vostok to supply two EC145 medical helicopters to the department's scientific and practical centre of emergency medicine.

The EC145 has already been successful as a medical helicopter in Moscow, with three operated by Moscow Aviation Centre estimated to save around 600 lives each year. The tender requires two new medical helicopters to be delivered in 2015 and to be equipped with an oxygen tank, resuscitator and defibrillator, as well as with a reanimation complex and neonatal intensive suite including incubator and lung ventilator for newborns.

Worldwide deliveries of the type exceed 650 units, of which the medical fleet accounts for around 30 per cent. The EC145 is equipped with a hingeless rotor system that provides vital power reserves, even in one engine inoperative scenarios. Its cabin allows transportation of two patients on stretchers and accom-panying medical personnel with all necessary emergency equipment.