08.08.2012
JSC Russian Helicopters kicked off manufacturing of test deck-based helicopters Ka-52K for Mistral-class landing ships, reports Lenta.ru referring to RIA Novosti and the company's press secretary Roman Kirillov.
The press service refused to specify exact number of assembled helicopters referring to interests of Russian Defense Ministry. According to Kirillov, deck takeoff/landing trials will be held on aircraft carrier
Admiral Kuznetsov.
In Sept 2011, attack helicopter Ka-52
Alligator had successfully passed trials on the deck of destroyer
Vice Admiral Kulakov. Then experts of
Russian Helicopters tested the aircraft stability under sea rolling conditions.
As was earlier reported, each of four
Mistral-class ships planned to join Russian Navy will accommodate eight attack helicopters Ka-52K and eight transport/combat helicopters Ka-29.
Russia and France signed the EUR 1.2-bln contract for construction of two
Mistral-class ships in June 2011. Works on the first ship began on Feb 1, 2012 in Saint-Nazaire (France). Cutting of metal for the first helicopter carrier started in St. Petersburg on Aug 1. The ship is expected to be built by 2014. The second ship is to be finished in 2015. According to contractual option, other two ships will be constructed in Russia.
