The first batch of Ка-52К and Ка-29 helicopters, which will be based at Mistral ships, will be manufactured and tested by 2014, RIA Novosti reports. It has been declared by the General Designer of Kamov design bureau, the Hero of Russia, Sergey Mikheev.
Russia has signed a contract with France on construction of two Mistrals in Saint-Nazaire dockyards and the acquisition of license for their production in Russia.
"Our objective is to mark the arrival of the first Mistral from France by the landing of a group of helicopters on its deck. It is the late 2014 – early 2015", - said Mikheev.
According to him, the group of helicopters should land on the ship in order to start their duty immediately. "We must meet this deadline", - the General Designer said.
He also noted that some changes will be made in the design, the prototypes will be constructed, the reliability of the vehicles will be tested and the serial helicopters will be produced during this period of time.
Mikheev also added that the helicopters will be manufactured in Arsenyev Progress enterprise in Primorye.
