Russian Helicopters has announced it has taken over the management of five aircraft repair plants to strengthen its after-sale services.

The plants, formerly owned by the Ministry of Defense, are in the cities of Khabarovsk, Svetly, Engels, St. Petersburg and Chita, it said.

"The aircraft repair plants that have joined Russian Helicopters will play an important role in strengthening and developing a modern after-sales service offering," said Russian Helicopters Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Servicing Yury Borisov. "Boosting service capacity and expanding geographical reach are key conditions (that) effectively fulfill state procurement orders for technical support and maintenance of helicopters."

The Russian government last October appointed Russian Helicopters sole executor of the Defense Ministry's order for works and services related to technical support and maintenance of helicopters produced under a state defense order. In December, the company signed a service agreement with the ministry to service the ministry's helicopter fleet through November of 2016.

Russian Helicopters said it will implement priority measures to streamline servicing of government-operated helicopters, including systems to maintain helicopter fleet operability at air force and navy bases, starting mobile maintenance and service centers, and starting serial production of equipment for ground support services and monitoring, repair and installation of equipment.