Russian Air Force to start receiving Ka-52 helicopters in 09

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Russian Air Force to start receiving Ka-52 helicopters in 2009
10:56 | 09/ 10/ 2008



VLADIVOSTOK, October 9 (RIA Novosti) - The Progress aircraft maker, based in Russia's Far East, will start deliveries of the Ka-52 Hokum-B combat/reconnaissance helicopter to the Russian Air Force in 2009, a Russian business daily said on Thursday.

The Ka-52 is a twin-seat derivative of the Ka-50 Hokum-A attack helicopter, and is designed primarily for reconnaissance and target designation purposes. (Image gallery)

"We have concluded state procurement contracts on the production of Ka-52 helicopters. The helicopter, equipped with an on-board radar, is undergoing final tests at present," the Kommersant newspaper quoted Roman Chernyshov, the Kamov executive director, as saying.

The Kamov design bureau is planning to supply Ka-50 and Ka-52 helicopters to foreign customers in the future, the official said.

According to Russian Air Force Commander, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, the Air Force will receive over 100 new combat helicopters, including the Ka-52 and the Mi-28N Night Hunter, over a period of five years, from 2011 until 2015.