Russia delivering Ka-52 attack helicopters to Egypt

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The Egyptian military has accepted the first three of 46 Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters from Russia, with Egyptian pilots currently undergoing helicopter training.

This is according to a Russian defence source quoted by Russian news agency TASS, which reported that the first three aircraft were delivered from the Progress plant in the Primorsk region of Russia.

In 2015 Egypt agreed to acquire 46 conventional Ka-52 Alligator helicopters. The first, seen in desert camouflage, was spotted at the Progress engine factory in June. Deliveries are set to take place between 2017 and 2019.

Last month the International Cooperation Department Chief of Russia’s Rostec state corporation, Viktor Kladov, said that Egypt has agreed to acquire Ka-52K Katran naval attack helicopters but had not yet signed a contract. Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugaev told TASS that Russia and Egypt were due to hold talks on Ka-52K deliveries at the MAKS 2017 airshow underway in 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.

Meanwhile, MiG-29M fighter jets painted in Egyptian colours have been seen flying in Russia ahead of imminent delivery. Egypt has ordered some 50 MiG-29s from RAC MiG.