Airbus Helicopters and China's Avicopter finalised a joint contract for the production of 1,000 new-generation EC175/AC352 rotorcraft, in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President François Hollande at the Elysée Palace in Paris.
The contract cements the industrial collaboration between Airbus Helicopters and AVIC on their jointly-developed EC175/AC352.
Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume Faury said, "Today's agreement results from several years of close collaboration between our teams. It sets the stage for an unprecedented full-scale production framework by both partners and adds a new dimension to the relationship with Avicopter,"
"The production contract's signature will allow both of us to satisfy the Chinese and worldwide market needs in the medium helicopter segment, added Li Fangyong, AVIC Executive Vice President. "This also puts Avicopter's production resources to work in the aviation industry's global industrial chain."
While development work has been equally shared between Airbus Helicopters and Avicopter for the EC175/AC352 project, production is likewise shared, combining the capabilities of both companies. Coming from a common platform, two different rotorcraft are being built: the AC352, assembled and supported from China by Avicopter, mainly for the Chinese market; and the EC175, assembled and supported by Airbus Helicopters from Marignane, France, for the worldwide market.
The contract cements the industrial collaboration between Airbus Helicopters and AVIC on their jointly-developed EC175/AC352.
Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume Faury said, "Today's agreement results from several years of close collaboration between our teams. It sets the stage for an unprecedented full-scale production framework by both partners and adds a new dimension to the relationship with Avicopter,"
"The production contract's signature will allow both of us to satisfy the Chinese and worldwide market needs in the medium helicopter segment, added Li Fangyong, AVIC Executive Vice President. "This also puts Avicopter's production resources to work in the aviation industry's global industrial chain."
While development work has been equally shared between Airbus Helicopters and Avicopter for the EC175/AC352 project, production is likewise shared, combining the capabilities of both companies. Coming from a common platform, two different rotorcraft are being built: the AC352, assembled and supported from China by Avicopter, mainly for the Chinese market; and the EC175, assembled and supported by Airbus Helicopters from Marignane, France, for the worldwide market.