Ka-52K Naval Attack Helicopter Makes its First Flight

Russian Ka-52K ‘Hokum B’ naval attack helicopters for the Russian Navy’s Mistral-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessels makes its fisrt flight.

Russian Naval Aviation will need no fewer than 40 Ka-52Ks, the first of which is tentatively slated to enter squadron service by late 2015.

“The helicopters of this type [Ka-52K] will be located on Mistral-class helicopter carriers, which France is obliged to deliver to Russia. The first helicopters are already constructed. The first trial flights of Ka-52K helicopters will take place in the beginning of 2015,” Mikheev said.

Vladivostok amphibious assault ship of the French Mistral class in the docks of SNX France.

Russia and France signed a $1.6 billion deal for two Mistral-class ships in June 2011. The handover of the first ship, the Vladivostok, was scheduled for November 14, but did not take place.

On November 25, French President Francois Hollande postponed the delivery of the Vladivostok to Russia over the situation in Ukraine.