MOSCOW, September 23. /TASS/. Russia and Egypt have signed an agreement on supplies of fifty helicopters of the Ka-52 Alligator family and Moscow does not rule out delivery of the deck-based version of these helicopters that were designed for the defaulted Mistral project, a well-connected source in the sphere of defense technologies told TASS.
"An agreement on the supplies of fifty Ka-52 helicopters has been signed," he said. "If the Egyptian side finds it necessary, the sea-based version of the helicopters will be supplied."
Officials at the state weaponry trading company Rosoboronexport refrained from commenting on the information.
Elysees Palace said earlier on Wednesday the French government had reached an agreement on the sales to Egypt of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers that were originally built for the Russian Navy.
Sources in the Russian Navy’s Main Headquarters told TASS in August that the Navy expects to receive the first Kamov Ka-52K (Katran) ship-borne helicopters in 2017-2018. The helicopters were earlier intended to be based on two Mistral helicopter carriers, which France has refused to deliver to Russia over Moscow's stance on developments in neighboring Ukraine.
- Russia’s naval aviation to receive first Mistral-bound helicopters by 2018
- Egypt orders Russian Ka-52 combat helicopters — source
- Deliveries of Ka-52K, Mi-28NM helicopters to begin soon — Helicopters of Russia
- Construction of Ka-52K shipborne helicopters not connected with Mistral delivery
- Ka-52 Alligator program provides for export of these helicopters
The Ka-52K is the deck-based version of the Ka-52 Alligator combat helicopter. Initially, this type of helicopters was developed for Mistral helicopter carriers ordered in France in 2011.
However, France froze the delivery of two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships to Russia in 2014 over Moscow’s stance on developments in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Francois Hollande agreed on terminating the contract on the delivery of the ships to Russia.
Russian Helicopters rotocraft manufacturer and Russia’s Defense Ministry earlier said Ka-52K helicopters would be based on other ships of the Russian Navy instead of Mistrals. Russian Helicopters has also said the company expects deck-based Alligator helicopters to enjoy demand on international arms markets.