BEIJING -
Eurocopter, a European helicopter manufacturer,
recently unveiled its plan to set up a helicopter
joint venture in northeast China. Both Eurocopter
and its Chinese partner, AVIC II, will invest 200
million euros (US$239 million) in the joint
venture, which will be located in Harbin, capital
of Heilongjiang province.
The joint venture will be dedicated to the
production and related research and development
(R&D) activities for the EC-175, a leading
heavy-class helicopter, said one Eurocopter
official. Two production lines are scheduled for
completion by 2008. The EC-
175, a
6-ton helicopter, serves well in transportation,
security, rescue work and other civil tasks.
Choppers produced in China are oriented to the
global market, according to Eurocopter.
Eurocopter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
EADS (European Aeronautic, Defense and Space
Company), a global leader in the aerospace,
defense and related services, according to the
Eurocopters website. AVIC is a large helicopter
manufacturer in China.
Eurocopter began
providing helicopters to Chinese customers in the
1960s. Its most successful investment in China so
far has been the co-production of EC-120, a
popular 1.6-ton model. Eurocopters' edge in engine
technology, control technology and electrical
systems will boost China's helicopter industry,
said experts.
EADS, the parent of
Eurocopter, has long stretched its China strategy
beyond R&D and production. When AVIC made its
initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
in October 2003, EADS bought 5% of the company's
shares for US$30 million.
Global demand
for high-end helicopters will be on a fast track
in the next five years, speculates Eurocopter,
adding that the demand for 6-ton choppers alone is
expected to exceed 800.
