Russia will supply Ka-52K shipboard helicopters to Egypt, according to a policy decision yet to be signed, Director for International Cooperation at Russia’s Rostec Corporation Viktor Kladov told Russian agency TASS on Tuesday.
“We were just in Egypt to discuss this issue,” said Kladov. “Since a policy decision has been made, signing a contract is only a technical matter.”
He added that the helicopters will be used by ground forces and will be deployed on the Mistral helicopter carriers.
According to TASS, the Ka-52K helicopters are from a range of shipboard helicopters in the Russian Navy designed for patrol missions and fire support missions.
These helicopters differ from the baseline version as the former feature a shortened folding wing, upgraded to carry heavy weapons.
The Ka-52K helicopters also include a mechanism of folding rotor blades which allows them to fit into an under-deck compartment, TASS explained.
“The armored cockpit and the ejection system allow pilots to safely leave the helicopter. The Ka-52 shipboard version also features a rescue system to assist people in distress at sea,” TASS added.
Earlier in June, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that Egypt’s Air Force would soon be enhanced by a delivery of Kamov Ka-50, a Russian-made single-seat attack helicopter.
The deal was signed back in 2015 and stipulates that 46 “Black Shark” helicopters will be delivered to Egypt. It was reported that the first batch will be delivered in the summer of 2017.
“Black Shark” helicopters are enhanced by state-of the art arming technologies, including an electro-optical observation and laser targeting system, Arbalet-52 radar, reconnaissance and detection targets, as well as anti-tank and ship missiles.
In February, Russian news agency Sputnik reported that Egypt will receive some 50 MiG-29 fighters from Russia, scheduled for 2020.
Russia’s Vedomosti newspaper reported that the jets are part of a $3.5 billion arms deal signed by Russian President Valdimir Putin and his counterpart President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in April 2015.
