ka-226 by no definition can be categorized to anything but a light utility helicopter.
Cash still goes to Moscow, you did not get my point. Arms procurement is sometimes just one country helping an allied country with cash like the Indian example. They have better western lower RCS fighter in hands like Rafale, a true 4.5 generation machine yet they are still paying 60-70 million extortion money to Russia for a 10-15 m2 RCS SU-30MKI which could not defend airspace against the Mirage-III/V. Its politics more than military strategy.
both waste of money .
and this ka-226, in 2017 they want to buy it for search and rescue but the deal didn't went through
the helicopter has weak engine only 580shp each engine in contrast bell-214 engine have 2930shp
by the way who recall this USA helicopter designed in 1953 and retired in early 70s (for the people who said ka-226 has more modern design than bell 206, 205 or 214 or saba-248)
I am not sure if Ka-226 is procured and integrated properly. I have asked for pictorial evidence and I got none so far.
As for SU-35S, its a numbers game for IRIAF.
Small order of 24 Jets or if transfer fall in the middle because of cold relations like what happened to a 72 aircraft strong order of MIG-29 only resulted in 24 fighters being transferred without the simulator,just 150 x ARH R-27ER1, will be a disaster for Iran since this will add two squadrons of another aircraft type to IRIAF's maintenance burden. It won't be enough to add anything to interception capabilities since the flanker airframe has a massive 10-15 m2 RCS and has IRBIS-E with small tracking range of 100 km with 100 km ranging BVR of export model R-77-1 for ARH BVR attack which IRIAF needs badly to counter growing arsenal of low RCS 4.5 generation western fighters around Iran. We have no answer to EF-2000, Rafale, F-18EF, F-16V all have <1 m2 RCS, have tracking ranges in excess of 150-200 KM and can fire meteor BVRAAMs and AIM-120C/D at a flanker long before IRBIS-E can even figure out what happened. In few years we will start seeing F-35 flying around us in our enemy territories as well.
On the other hand IRIAF will hit a gold mine if an order can be increased to what BT claimed to i.e. 88 fighters (24+64) or maybe just 64? This means that IRIAF can get rid of 184-190 relic fleet of F-4E/D (64), MirageF1-Q (23), F-7N (43), F-5E/F (60, can add to Kowsar production). Among these only Dowran upgraded F-4E/D offer some value as they can fire AShCM, LACMs, PGMs. Flanker can do all that much better so 88 x SU-35S can relieve IRIAF of maintaince $ of relic fleet, most of which is just for prop show. There will offcourse be lobbyism by squadrons, and maintenance/overhaul mafia to never let that happen. Different subject. Iran can settle a large deep overhaul plant inside HESA for AL-31, airframe MLU. In time these fighters can be upgraded by Russians with AESA radars. Maybe R-77M or R-37, it's wishful thinking but then long-range BVR engagement will become possible, this will even enable retirement F-14A/AM. This will all cost IRIAF some 10 Billion USD. Order will be complete in late 2020s and can allow HESA to focus on Kowsar-II, low RCS, an electronically advanced light fighter for long-range BVR interceptions and ambush attacks with TDL.
All in all SU-35S is coming to Iran in one form or another.
I May confuse Kamov with this Eurocopter, but I Will look for picture, I am almost sure I saw Kamov, with its rotor configuration it is unique
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I am afraid these are not Ka-226. If you have Ka-226 in Iranian colors then please post that along with ARH seeker of Fakour-90 that you claimed is an ARH LR-BVR missile. Just reminding.
www.reuters.com
