You're reading: Azarov: Ukraine planning to pass helicopter construction program in 2011

The Ukrainian government plans to adopt a helicopter construction program in 2011, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said in Kyiv on Thursday.

"The time has come to adopt such a program… It will be adopted this year," he said.

During his visit to Zaporizhia-based OJSC Motor Sich, he observed a test flight by a Mi-8 helicopter modernized by the plant. Motor Sich CEO Viacheslav Bohuslayev said that the helicopter, which has a new engine, would now be able to operate for an additional 10-16 years.

He said that Motor Sich was currently capable of upgrading other Mi helicopters in a similar way, and in particular, the Mi-2 helicopter.

Bohuslayev added that due to the extension of the working life of old its old helicopters, Ukraine would have eight to ten years to develop its own new helicopters.

Azarov noted that the country was experiencing a significant need for helicopters, so it was interested in developing its own helicopter construction sector.