ROME- Italian group Finmeccanica are celebrating after signing a 160 million euro contract with Russian petroleum giant Rosneft, officials said Tuesday. The Italian group will supply 10 Aw-189 helicopters to RN-Aircraft, a company under the Rosneft umbrella, to be delivered between 2015 and 2017.

 The contract signed Monday originates from the framework agreement signed in December 2014 between the group and the petroleum company. Further supply of helicopters to Rosneft is also expected by 2025, with up to a total of 160 units. Company Chairman Igor Sechin explained the need for the helicopters as transportation, in order to develop offshore projects, which are “a strategic priority for Rosneft.”

The twin-engine Aw189 helicopter is to be primarily used for offshore helicopter support, search and rescue, and passenger transport, designed in response to the need for increased productivity, greater payloads and longer range helicopters. 

 With the order, another agreement has also been signed that foresees a progressive reorganisation of the joint venture HeliVert, which is currently split between Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland and helicopter company Russian Helicopters equally. The reshuffle will see Rosneft participating in the venture, with a 30 percent involvement: consequently, 40 percent of involvement will be from Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland, 30 percent from Russian Helicopters and 30 percent from Rosneft.

 The cooperation between a Russian and Italian company is an indication that the largest Russian petroleum supplier is still able to do business with Europe despite the imposition of sanctions from the United States and Europe over the Ukrainian conflict.