Alexey Kozlov, General Director of the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant of the "Russian Helicopters" holding, showcased the first import-substituted Mi-171A3 helicopter. The machine is designed for offshore transportation of people and, according to Kozlov, successfully copes with its tasks, with all its components being Russian.

The Mi-171A3 surpasses foreign competitors in key parameters: a takeoff weight of 13,000 kg against 12,000 kg for the Sikorsky S-92, a capacity of up to 24 passengers against 19, and a range of 1000 km with additional tanks. The helicopter is equipped with an emergency ditching system, allowing it to land on water in waves up to 5 points, and a crash-resistant fuel system. In March 2026, the machine completed certification in its fully import-substituted form, performing over 500 test flights, including in frosts down to –50°C.

Before the appearance of the Mi-171A3, Russian companies used American Sikorsky S-92 and European Airbus Helicopters on the shelf. Now, the first three production machines, built to Gazprom's order, are already undergoing testing and break-in on Sakhalin. Potential buyers are countries of the former USSR and Latin America; China is also looking at the helicopter, Kozlov noted.