Arab British Helicopter Company
The Arab British Helicopter Company (ABHCO), (Arabic:الشركة العربية البريطانية للمروحيات) is an Anglo-Italiano-Egyptian joint venture that specialises in helicopter manufacturing.
Native name | الشركة العربية البريطانية للمروحيات |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
Traded as | ABHCO |
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | March 1978 |
| Headquarters | Helwan, Egypt, Egypt |
| Products |
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| Parent | Arab Organization for Industrialization |
It was established during 1978 following an agreement with the British aerospace company Westland Helicopters as an affiliate of the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI). It was intended for the venture to assemble the Westland Lynx helicopter, along with its Rolls-Royce Gem engines, at ABHCO's facility in Helwan, 18 miles south of Cairo, Egypt. Despite orders being placed for 250 ABHCO-built Lynx helicopters, none were ever completed due to an economic boycott being enacted on Egypt by the other Arab nations during the late 1970s. Following a licensing agreement, the firm also undertook the manufacture of the Westland Gazelle.