Russian Army states demand for Ka-60 could be 200 aircraft over ten years

Published: 1/24/2000

Colonel- General Anatoly Sitnov, responsible for the Russian Army"s equipment, has claimed that, over the next ten years, Russia will need 200 new multipurpose Ka-60 Kasatka (Killer Whale) helicopters. The Ka-60 is a new type of aircraft, primarily designed for training and reconnaissance missions. The basic price is estimated to be nearly $3m. The Russian Army appears to be using the opportunity offered by the conflict in Southern Russia to step up its efforts to get additional funding for its helicopter forces. Sitnov has used the conflict to pull forward Ka-50 orders, which prior to the contract were due to be delivered after 2002 and has also doubled the upgrade orders for the Mi-24 and Mi-8, involving additional avionics and night flying capability. Associated articles: www.concise.org 24th November 1999; 4th January 2000

Article ID: 1347