Russian Ministry of Defense intends to acquire 15 single-engine and 30 twin-engine light multi-role helicopters this year; about $221,54 million (6,6 billion rubles) will be allocated for these purposes from the federal budget, RIA Novosti reports.

The official representative of Russian Ministry of Defense, Colonel Vladimir Drik, stated that the Russian air forces will acquire about 30 Ka-226 helicopters by 2020 for transportation of military personnel, mail and light cargo on behalf of the Ministry of Defense. Pilots are already undergoing retraining in Torzhok aviation center for operating these vehicles.

According to the project documentation, the public auction will take place on March 19th in electronic form. The place of delivery is military unit number 62632-D in Torzhok, Tver Region. The delivery time is November 25th 2012.

As it appears from the appendix to the document regarding feasibility of state contract’s maximum price, the price of one single-engine helicopter will be $3,72 million (110,7 million rubles) (supplier – “HeliProm – SPb”) and as for twin-engine one - 164,85 million rubles.

The acquisition of these helicopters is assumed by State Defense Order for 2012 and the period from 2013 to 2014, said in the document.

According to the technical specification, the helicopters are intended for field courier and mail services, controlling the troops, transportation and delivery of cargo, duty transportation of four passengers from the military personnel of RF Ministry of Defense.

The single-engine helicopter’s maximum flight speed is 280 km/h, vertical speed - 9-12 m/s, range – over 600 km. The engine’s basic time between overhauls should be more than 4000 hours.

The twin-engine helicopter’s maximum flight speed should be 270 km/h, range – over 700 km, vertical speed – 7-9 m/s. The engine’s basic time between overhauls should be more than 2500 hours.

"The supplier must provide warranty maintenance during two years (or 1000 hours of flight time) from the date of delivery. Spare parts and expendable materials for the helicopters should be provided during 20 years from the warranty’s expiration date", - specified in the document.

17 new helicopters have already been delivered to Torzhok aviation center in late December (among them are Mi-28Ns, Mi-35s, Mi-8MTV-5s and Ka-52s. The acquisition of these helicopters will increase the intensity of personnel retraining. The fleet of Torzhok aviation center will be being renewed in future. The backbone of strike helicopters will be formed by Мi-28Ns, Мi-35s, Ка-50s and Ка-52s. The new vehicles will be used for training of personnel from the military units. Moreover, Mi-35 helicopters will be used for training of instructors and foreign specialists.