Nikolai Surkov
Izvestia, September 06, 2016, p. 4
In Moscow defense ministers of Russia and Egypt Sergei Shoigu and Sedki Sobhi approved training of Egyptian pilots for strike helicopters Ka-52K. Universal landing ships of Mistral type should be armed with these helicopters.
MOSCOW AND CAIRO ARE CLOSE TO SIGNING OF A CONTRACT ON SUPPLY OF KA-52K KATRAN HELICOPTERS TO EGYPTIAN NAVY
In Moscow defense ministers of Russia and Egypt Sergei Shoigu and Sedki Sobhi approved training of Egyptian pilots for strike helicopters Ka-52K. Universal landing ships of Mistral type should be armed with these helicopters. A source in the military diplomatic circles reported this. This circumstance demonstrates that Moscow and Cairo are close to signing of a big contract on supply of Katran helicopters to Egyptian navy.
A source familiar with the course of negotiations explained:
– The ministers agreed on certain measures for training of Egyptian pilots for maritime helicopters Ka-52K necessary for arming of universal landing ships of Mistral type purchased by Cairo from France this year. Now Egyptians should decide which elements of combat training are especially necessary for their pilots and should formulate the requirements.
According to the source, by the end of the year the Egyptian party should send all documents to Moscow and after that Russia will develop combat training programs.
The source added:
– Specialists of Helicopters of Russia holding, Navy and Airspace Forces will be used for training of Egyptian pilots.
The third meeting of the joint Russian-Egyptian commission for military technological cooperation took place in Moscow on September 5. According to results of that meeting, Shoigu stated that “a steady positive dynamic and increase of the volume of contracts is observed in the military technological aspect of relations of the two countries.”
The Defense Minister stressed:
– We notice with satisfaction that Egypt tries to use modern models of armament and military hardware made in Russia for arming of the national armed forces.
Egypt bought out universal landing ships of Mistral type built according to an order of Russia from France. The first ship was transferred to representatives of Egypt on June 2 of 2016 and was named Gamal Abdel Nasser in honor of the first President of Egypt. It is expected that the second ship will be transferred in September and will be named in honor of Anwar Sadat.
Now Egyptians need an aviation group for these shops. When adoption of Mistrals for service by the navy was discussed it was planned to arm each of them with eight Ka-52K and eight Ka-29/31 helicopters. Most likely, Cairo will buy a similar kit and thus it will be not less than 16 Ka-52K and the same quantity of Ka-29/31 in total. Earlier, mass media reported that the overall value of the deal for supply of helicopters to Egypt could exceed $1 billion.
According to independent military expert Anton Lavrov, a few years will pass before Egypt receives a normal group of a few tens of deck-based helicopters.
Lavrov explained:
– Meanwhile, experimental operation of the first test models of Ka-52K is going on and there is no series-made model yet. We produce 16-20 ordinary Ka-52 per year now. If a part of production facilities works for fulfillment of the Egyptian order we will need two or three yeas. During this time Egypt will manage to prepare the necessary quantity of pilots and ground infrastructure.
