"The cooperation with LOM PRAHA enables the certification of the APU SAFIR with a new electric generator that will represent an alternative to the current electric generator. At the same time, it is another modernization of APU SAFIR for us. Ground and flight tests will be carried out on the helicopter and a pledge bulletin will be issued. The value of the contract with LOM PRAHA is in the order of millions of crowns. In terms of future PBS orders for the APU SAFIR, it is worth billions of crowns," said PBS Velka Bites CEO Ing. Milan Macholán.
The subject of the contract is, in addition to the actual installation, also the design of the future installation kit, which will enable serial integration of the new generator into other APU units. LOM PRAHA will also ensure the procurement of the helicopter from the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic for the needs of the installation, will certify the solution under the supervision of the Military Aviation Authority (ODVL SPŠp MO), and after successful testing, will dismantle the unit from the helicopter, restore the machine to its original condition and return it to the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic.
"Cooperation with PBS GROUP is a strategic step that contributes to the development of the Czech defence industry's capabilities and the modernisation of helicopter technology. This project shows that when strong Czech companies cooperate at the national level, the result can have not only technological but also strategic value with an international reach," adds Jiří Protiva, Director of the state enterprise LOM PRAHA.
This project strengthens the development of new technologies in the field of auxiliary power units.