Agreement near on heavy-lift helicopter

China, Russia in final stages of talks to jointly produce aerial workhorse

China and Russia are close to inking a cooperation agreement on the joint development and production of a heavy-lift helicopter, according to a senior Chinese helicopter designer.

Aviation Industry Corp of China, the State-owned aircraft giant, and Russian Helicopters, Russia's only helicopter manufacturer, have had 17 rounds of talks on the subject. All of the technological requirements, work assignments, collaboration methods and schedules have been finalized, said Huang Chuanyue, deputy chief engineer at Avicopter, AVIC's helicopter branch.