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A Ka-52K prototype seen during deck-landing trials. It now seems certain Egypt will order the helicopter for its Mistral amphibious assault ships. Source: Russian Helicopters
Russia and Egypt have reached an agreement under which Egyptian pilots will be trained to fly the Kamov Ka-52K Katran (the naval version of the Ka-52 Alligator) attack helicopter, the Russian newspaper Izvestia reported on 6 September, citing a source in military and diplomatic circles.
The source said the agreement was reached when Egyptian defence minister Sedki Sobhi met his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow and noted that this indicated that Cairo, which has already ordered the standard Ka-52, would also order the naval version for its two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships.
"The ministers agreed on specific measures for the preparation of the Egyptian pilots for flying the ship-based Ka-52K," it quoted the source as saying. The Egyptian side has until the end of the year to send the necessary documents to Moscow, and then Russia will develop a training programme, the source added.
The two French-built Mistrals were originally ordered for the Russian Navy, with the design being modified to accommodate the Ka-52K that was being developed for the ships, but France had to cancel the contract due to the imposition of EU sanctions on Moscow.
Russian presidential aide Vladimir Kozhin told journalists on 6 September that negotiations to supply Egypt with communications and control equipment, as well as helicopters, for its Mistrals are ongoing, but no contracts had been signed as yet.
The TASS news agency reported that the United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation has completed the communications and control systems, which could be delivered to Egypt at short notice.
Meanwhile, the Russian Navy has announced that the Ka-52K will be part of the new air wing for the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov during its forthcoming deployment to the Mediterranean to support operations in Syria.
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http://www.janes.com/article/63493/egypt-russia-sign-ka-52k-training-agreement