06.07.2017, Russia.
Russia will conclude a contract with Egypt to supply Ka-52k (Katran, NATO reporting name: Hokum-BN – editor’s note) and shipboard systems for helicopters exploitation, Director-General of JSC Rosoboronexport ( Russian Defense Export ) Alexander Mikheev informed on July 5 in an interview to RIA Novosti news agency.
Alexander Mikheev told that Egypt will purchase Russian helicopters for equipping Mistral helicopter carriers, bought by Egypt from France. Mistrals have already entered into service in Egypt’s Naval Forces, which is why official Cairo is interested in their fastest reequipment for fully functional exploitation. The representative of Rosoboronexport noted, that he expects that the contract with Egypt will be signed this year.
Egypt purchased two Mistral-class helicopter carriers from France in September 2015. These ships were built for Russia, but France refused to supply them to the Russian Ministry of Defense due to the sanctions against Russia imposed by the European Union. Already during the sale of helicopter carriers to Egypt, it was known that Russia can supply for them a set of sea-based aviation – Ka-52k helicopters. This modification of Ka-52 Alligator (NATO reporting name: Hokum-B) was developed specially to be used on Mistral ships.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
