RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS HOPING FOR FURTHER INROADS INTO NORTH AFRICAN MARKET

Our Bureau - : Nov 30, 2021 - : 6:35 pm

With the Middle East and North Africa having one of the world’s largest fleets of Russian and Soviet-made rotorcraft, Russian Helicopters is presenting a wide range of military and civil helicopters at EDEX 2021. Among the helicopters that the company is showcasing at the show are attack helicopters Ka-52 and Mi-35P and military transport Mi-17V-5. Company officials will also highlight the capabilities of the Mi-28NE, and Ka-52 attack helicopters that were presented for the first time at the recent Dubai Airshow.

The company is pinning hopes on the Ka-226T Climber and Ansat Aurus as well after their recent international premieres. In October 2018, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assessed Ka-52 Alligator capabilities during a visit to an Egyptian air force base. The helicopter is equipped with devices to reduce visibility, has electronic protection and active anti-combat systems. Advanced flight characteristics – achieved in part thanks to its coaxial rotors – make the helicopter highly maneuverable in limited space and thus able to adopt an advantageous attack position.

The Ka-52 Alligator offers a high degree of protection to its crew, has advanced automated systems for ease of piloting, and is easy to service and maintain on the ground. Mi-35P, which can be used in high temperature and altitude conditions, has a design that ensures low acoustic visibility and increased combat survivability, thus reducing maintenance complexity. The helicopter is equipped with an upgraded observation and sighting system with a 3rd generation matrix long-wave thermal imager, a high-resolution color TV camera and a laser rangefinder. Mi-35P also has state-of-the-art generation 3+ night vision goggles and a set of external and internal lighting equipment adapted to these goggles’ applications. The Mi-17 is a medium multi-purpose helicopter, an export modification
of the Mi-8.