Iran's Intent to Purchase Russian Helicopters

Iran intends to purchase three helicopters: the Mil Mi-17, Ansat, and Ka-226 for its medical and transportation needs. But what are the characteristics of these models? And why has Iran opted for these models? After the nuclear agreement, Iran can purchase new helicopters for medical and transportation needs, and negotiations have also been held with major European and American companies for helicopter purchases. However, these negotiations are progressing slowly due to the complexity and the manufacturers' fears of U.S. regulations, which is why Iran plans to use Russian helicopters to meet its short-term needs. Recently, several Red Crescent centers in impoverished provinces of Iran, such as Lorestan, have received Mil Mi-17 helicopters. The Mil Mi-17 is a developed version of the Mil Mi-8. This helicopter has dual military and civilian applications and is one of the most widely used helicopters in the world. The Mi-17 features a five-blade main rotor and two Klimov turbo-shaft engines, each with a power of 2,190 horsepower. The empty weight of this helicopter is 7,489 kg and it can take off with a maximum weight of 13 tons. The Mi-17 can carry 30 soldiers or 4 tons of cargo inside or 5 tons outside the helicopter, with a maximum speed of 250 km/h and a climb rate of 8 meters per second. Its operational range is about 500 km and its service ceiling is 6,000 meters. More than 80 countries around the world use this helicopter model. Another model that Iran intends to purchase is the Ansat helicopter. This helicopter is manufactured by Kazan and its main competitor among Western helicopters is the Bell 204, which constitutes one of the main helicopters in Iran's current fleet. However, the age of Iran's Bell 204 fleet has increased, necessitating replacement with a new helicopter. The Ansat can transport eight passengers and has two turbo-shaft engines with a power of 630 horsepower. This helicopter can carry three tons of cargo. The maximum speed of this model is 285 km/h and it has an operational range of 500 km. The Bell 204, which competes with this helicopter, is also an eight-seater and has a single engine with a power of 1,100 horsepower. In this regard, the Ansat is about 150 horsepower stronger than the Bell 204. The Ka-226 is the third model that Iran intends to purchase; this model is considered a light helicopter. This helicopter is manufactured by Kamov, one of the oldest helicopter manufacturers in the world, established in 1929. This seven-seater product has two turbo-shaft engines with a power of 580 horsepower and can also be used for maritime patrols. The operational range of this helicopter is 600 km and it is one of the best options among Russian helicopters for air ambulance services in major Iranian cities. Currently, based on this need and considering the lifting of air sanctions, extensive negotiations have begun with some American, European, and Russian companies for the purchase of various helicopters. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, the largest military equipment manufacturer in the U.S., has stated that it is studying and evaluating the possibility of selling commercial and non-military helicopters to Iran. Natalie Proyat, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Sikorsky, stated that "the S-76 helicopters or the S-92 helicopters, which have long-range capabilities, could be suitable options for Iran." However, with the arrival of a new U.S. administration, contracts with this company may face risks similar to those with Boeing. History of Helicopter Purchases and Manufacturing for Iran Before the revolution, Iran was one of the largest helicopter buyers in the world, a significant portion of which were military helicopters. However, among these, the Bell 214 helicopter has dual military-transport applications and is currently one of the main helicopters that Iran uses in the civilian sector for various purposes such as air ambulances or the Red Crescent. In 1972, Iran, seeking a suitable helicopter for its high and warm climatic and geographical conditions, approached Bell in the U.S. That year, Bell designed a model based on Iran's needs, which later became known as the Isfahan 214 model. From 1972, work began on designing a model that met Iran's requirements. In this model, known as the Bell-214A, a more powerful engine was installed. The Bell-214, with an engine power of 2,930 horsepower and its upgraded rotor, had the capability to carry more cargo and perform better in hot weather and high altitudes. Hot weather and high altitudes are the most challenging climatic conditions for helicopter flights, and this geographical situation is frequently observed in Iran. The first Bell-214A model took flight in 1974, and the first production unit of the Bell-214 was delivered to the Iranian army on April 26, 1975. Three days later, Major General Manouchehr Khosrodad, the commander of Iran's Airborne Corps, and Billy Kelly, the chief test pilot of Bell, set five new records with it. Their helicopter reached an altitude of 3,000 meters in one minute and 58 seconds, after five minutes and 13 seconds was at an altitude of 6,000 meters above sea level, crossed 9,000 meters in 15 minutes and 5 seconds, sustained at an altitude of 9,010 meters for 30 seconds, and achieved a maximum altitude of 9,070 meters. After completing the design and testing phases, a contract worth $500 million was signed for 287 units of this helicopter. Iran's order was so large that a new branch was established to produce the custom model for Iran. Bell also established a factory in Isfahan to manufacture about 400 units of this helicopter and its larger twin-engine model, the Bell-214ST (50 units of the Bell-214A and 350 units of the Bell-214ST). The next production model of the Bell-214 for Iran was a model specifically designed for search and rescue operations named the Bell-214C. In total, 293 units of the Bell-214A and 39 units of the Bell-214C were delivered to Iran before the Islamic Revolution. Following the remarkable success of the "Isfahan Bell-214" helicopter, Bell designed a very advanced twin-engine helicopter based on the "Isfahan" helicopter's body specifically for Iran, named the Bell-214ST. This helicopter was supposed to be produced in the helicopter manufacturing complex in Shahin Shahr, Isfahan, but after the revolution, this project was canceled, and this helicopter ended up in Iraq instead of Iran. After the nuclear agreement, there was great hope that Iran would return to purchasing helicopters from Bell, which are suitable for Iran's climatic conditions. However, currently, with Donald Trump's administration in power, Iran's use of American helicopters or American-affiliated European companies is shrouded in uncertainty. In this situation, if Iran is unable to purchase from American companies, it may turn to Airbus helicopters; however, the purchasing process may be time-consuming, and the prices of these helicopters are also higher than those of Russian models. For now, Iran intends to purchase 60 Russian helicopters to meet its initial needs. Alexander Sherbinin, Deputy CEO of Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of the state-owned Rostec, stated that his company is negotiating with Iranian partners to supply the Ansat and Ka-226 light helicopters to Iran's Ministry of Health. These two multi-purpose and light helicopter models are commonly used as air ambulances. Sherbinin added that, in addition to helicopter delivery, the assembly of helicopters in Iran is also under consideration. It seems that Iran needs at least over 500 new helicopters to modernize its helicopter transport fleet.