Kazan Helicopters
The Tatarstan plant that began the Soviet Union’s first series production of helicopters in 1951 has since built more than 12,000 Mils, sold to around 100 countries.
Kazan Helicopters: the company and the aircraft that made its name
The first Soviet helicopter line
Kazan Helicopters dates its foundation to 4 September 1940. Its place in history was secured eleven years later, when in 1951 it launched the first series production of helicopters in the USSR, building Mikhail Mil’s small Mi-1. It followed with the Mi-4, the first Soviet helicopter to be exported, and so began a relationship with Mil’s design bureau that has lasted for more than seventy years.
Mi-8 and Mi-17
The Mi-8 became the plant’s staple. Kazan built the Mi-8 family in enormous numbers and is the only producer of the military Mi-17; it has also built the Mi-24/35 gunship. By 2019 more than 12,000 helicopters had come out of Kazan, flying a combined total of more than 50 million hours, with exports to about 100 countries. The company also operates from a heliport at Tomilino, outside Moscow, which it has used since 2007.
Ansat and after
Kazan has also tried to build its own designs. The light twin-engine Ansat was introduced in 1999 with Pratt & Whitney Canada engines, and the plant has produced the Mi-38 heavy helicopter and the Aktai light helicopter. Today Kazan Helicopters is part of the Russian Helicopters holding; in 2016 it reported revenue of 377 million dollars. That year it posted an operating loss of 29.2 million dollars but a small net profit of 1.94 million, on total assets of about 1.02 billion.
Kazan Helicopters in numbers
The company
- In short
- Founded 1940
- Founded 4 September 1940 in Kazan
- First Soviet series helicopter production, 1951
- Part of Russian Helicopters
Production
- Best known for
- Mi-8, Mi-17
- Mi-1, Mi-4, Mi-8/17, Mi-24/35, Mi-38, Ansat
- More than 12,000 helicopters by 2019
- Exports to about 100 countries
Today
- Now
- Part of Russian Helicopters
- Sole producer of the military Mi-17
- Ansat and Mi-38 in production
The numbers
- Helicopters built
- more than 12,0002019
- Combined flight hours
- more than 50 million2019
- Export countries
- about 100
- Revenue
- 377 million US dollars2016
Every notable Kazan Helicopters aircraft
Photos: Sergey Kustov (CC BY-SA 3.0)
| Aircraft | Role | First flight | Built | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mil Mi-1 | Light helicopter | Retired | First Soviet series-built helicopter | ||
| Mil Mi-4 | Transport helicopter | Retired | First exported Soviet helicopter | ||
| Mil Mi-8 | Medium transport helicopter | In production | Kazan’s most popular model | ||
| Mil Mi-17 | Military transport helicopter | In production | Kazan is the only producer of the military version | ||
| Mil Mi-24/35 | Attack helicopter | In service | |||
| Mil Mi-38 | Heavy transport helicopter | In production | |||
| Kazan Ansat | Light twin-engine helicopter | In production | Introduced with Pratt & Whitney Canada engines | ||
| Kazan Aktai | Light helicopter |
Kazan Helicopters aircraft in the world’s air forces
1 air forces in the Order of Battle fly or flew Kazan Helicopters types. 1 of them still have one in service.
| Air force | In service | Formerly flown |
|---|---|---|
| Russian Aerospace Forces | Kazan Ansat-U and Kamov Ka-226 |
Where Kazan Helicopters built, who led it, what it achieved
Factories
- Kazan plant · Kazan, Tatarstan — Main factory; also Tomilino heliport
Records and firsts
- First series production of helicopters in the USSR, Mi-1, 1951
Kazan Helicopters, year by year
Plant founded in Kazan
Mi-1 series production begins, the first in the USSR
Ansat introduced
Revenue of 377 million dollars
More than 12,000 helicopters built
Everything people ask about Kazan Helicopters
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Around Kazan Helicopters
Every fact, checked
Verified 2026-10-03.