A Chinese plant initiated screw driver assembly of Mi 171 helicopters, a Russian leading military export item.
      
      China has launched assembly of Mi 171 after it was given a permission of the Russian authorities. The assembling works are to be maintained in Chengdu, Sichuan. It is expected that 20 aircrafts will be assembled in 2008, while the estimated output of the enterprise will amount to 80 helicopters per year.
      
      Initially the Chinese party will use vehicle sets supplied from U-UAZ Plant manufacturing Mi 171 in Russia.
      
      The first helicopter assembled at the Chinese enterprise has already passed all necessary tests.
      
      Mi 171 helicopter is an improved version of Mi 8. China has acquired approximately 300 aircrafts of this kind for the last 15 years.
      
      source:
      www.vedomosti.ru