Egyptian KA-52 helicopter Pilots For Mistral Ship To Train In Russia

Egyptian pilots of Kamov Ka-52K helicopters that are designed for operation aboard Mistral-class amphibious assault ships will undergo training in Russia.

"Our main efforts are concentrated on preparing crews who will operate Ka-52Ks in Egypt. That is why, they are in Russia, working. Next year, their training is planned to be completed," Chief Designer of the Kamov Design Bureau Sergei Mikheyev told TASS on Monday, adding that designers had "no questions" about Ka-52K helicopters designed for operation in the Russian Navy.

"There are no questions concerning our Ka-52K helicopters. The cruise by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov has closed a whole number of questions and that is why everything is proceeding as normal," he stressed.

About 30 Egyptian pilots and 70 technicians are expected to undergo training in Russia this year. The first batch of 10 pilots that arrived at Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company (AAC Progress), part of the Russian Helicopters Holding Company, on 1 June 2017, underwent two and a half months of training.

In mid-2017, the Egyptian military accepted the first three of 46 Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters, which were delivered from the Progress plant in the Primorsk region of Russia.

The Ka-52Ks will be used aboard Egypt’s two Mistral class landing helicopter dock vessels. The navalised Ka-52K Katran features folding stub wings and folding main rotor blades that allow for easier stowage. Originally designed for Russia, each Mistral class vessel was designed to accommodate 16 of the helicopters. The two Mistrals were handed over to Egypt in June and September 2016.