Society

18:08, 30.10.2008 | Primorye Territory

Mass production of the Ka-52 Alligator combat helicopters was started at the Progress Works in the city of Arseniev, Primorsky Territory (Primorye), on Wednesday. Ka-52 helicopters will be purchased by the Defence Ministry under the state order during a period ending in 2015. The first combat helicopters for the Russian Armed Forces will be produced in 2009.

The beginning of mass production of Ka-52 helicopters “is a very important event for Primorye,” said Primorye Governor Sergei Darkin. “The production of every type of military hardware brings new technologies to Primorye. The Progress Works in Arseniev is expanding. It is also important that new jobs are created in the city for young specialists.”

The designing of the two-seat Alligator helicopter on the basis of the one-seat Ka-50 Black Shark helicopter began in 1994, and the first flight of the new helicopter took place on June 25, 1997. The Ka-52 helicopter retained all the advantages of its predecessor, and acquired the new ones, which permit it to expand the tactics of a group use of helicopters. The decision on the beginning of mass production of Ka-52 helicopters was made on the state level after the creation of the Oboronprom helicopter-building integrated group, which rallied about all the companies, which designed and produced helicopters in Russia.