The board of directors of Russian Helicopters Holding Company has taken a decision to unite JSC Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and JSC Kamov, to establish JSC National Helicopter Center (NHC). It will combine the potential of two helicopter design schools for more efficient and higher-quality rotorcraft design and upgrades.

The consolidation is aimed at the upgrowth of two design bureaus, Mil and Kamov; at the same time their brands will be preserved as freestanding and the personnel of both bureaus will form part of NHC. The move will assist in getting rid of the administrative, legal and economic barriers currently hindering cooperation between the two design teams. It is expected to create an environment for the smooth exchange of technical solutions and achievements, efficient distribution of workload between the subdivisions and unification of technical standards. Among the expected benefits are reduced labour costs, improved managerial and production efficiency, enhanced quality of design and less time before release for serial production.

“According to our estimates, the distribution of tasks between the two design bureaus and serial and aircraft repair plants of the holding company should cumulatively free up around 15-20 per cent of the annual working capacity of the two design bureaus, which can be allocated to the creation of technical groundwork and development of new helicopters,” says deputy director general for science and technology policy and helicopter development at JSC Russian Helicopters Mikhail Korotkevich, who presented the roadmap for consolidation at a board meeting. “Earlier, there was certain competitiveness between the companies; the same types of rotorcraft were being developed in parallel. Our common objective is to compete with foreign manufacturers, not with each other. Consolidation of the two schools will advance the objective.”

The economic effect from design bureau consolidation is based on the optimisation of the use of common ground infrastructure and the reduction of expenses resulting from performing the same type of tests. At the same time, a part of the freed resources will be channelled into enhancing scientific and technical potential and engaging new designers.

The roadmap for establishing NHC on the basis of the two design bureau was approved by the board of directors of Russian Helicopters. The first stage, formation of one company, will be completed by mid-2020. Further integration processes aimed at optimisation of activity within one company will take up until 2022.