Mass production of light multi-role Ka-226T helicopter will be started at Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise (KAPE) in 2016; in fact, the plant is ready to fulfill this task, Lenta.ru reports with reference to a source close to the military-industrial sector.

«The enterprise’s high degree of readiness for production of the new version of Ka-226 is caused by the fact that the helicopter prototypes in our country are manufactured by production enterprises,» representative of the military-industrial sector said.

The source added that the first production Ka-226T helicopters manufactured in Kumertau would be handed over to Gazpromavia, which signed a contract for delivery of 18 Ka-226TG vehicles.

He also said that Russian Ministry of Defense might become one of the customers for the new helicopter; the matter is being discussed. Since 2011 KAPE has been implementing a contract for delivery of 36 Ka-226 helicopters (base version), which should be implemented this year.

It was reported earlier that Indian armed forces have cancelled international tender for delivery of 197 light helicopters and recommended the government to purchase the same number of Ka-226T helicopters. According to experts, the value of this contract may reach $950 million.