Russian ship-based Ka-52K helicopters intended for Mistral assault ships will start performing flights in 2015, RIA Novosti reports with reference to CEO of Russian Helicopters Holding Company, Alexander Mikheev.
“These helicopters will be deployed onboard Mistral helicopter carriers to be delivered to Russia by France. The research and development work is being completed; the first helicopters have already been manufactured. The flight testing of Ka-52K helicopters will be started in early 2015,” Mikheev said.
In accordance with an invitation sent to the Russian party, the first “Valdivostok” Mistral assault ship should have been handed over to Russian navy on November 14th 2014. However, the delivery has not taken place yet and there is no set date for it. France decided to put the delivery of Vladivostok ship on hold in connection with the situation in Ukraine.
