MOSCOW - Russia will soon begin receiving 10 Ka-27M anti-submarine warfare helicopters annually.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement quoted by Tass News Agency on Monday, "This year, the number of Ka-27 helicopters arriving for naval aviation will make up another ten rotocraft. In compliance with the state armament program, the naval aviation is planned to be receiving 10 upgraded Ka-27M helicopters a year until the entire pool of these choppers is modernized."
These 10 will follow the first batch of Ka-27Ms, consisting of eight helicopters, which arrived last year.
The Ka-27M is designed to conduct anti-submarine warfare. New improvements provide the helicopters the ability to detect and target submarines.
According to the Ministry of Defense, "The helicopters have received upgraded onboard radio-electronic equipment and a search system that allows using new systems of searching for and destroying submarines, and also radio-acoustic equipment that helps considerably improve the fulfillment of designated missions by this type of helicopters."
Modernization efforts are being carried out at the Kumertau Aircraft Production Enterprise.
Russia may be additionally considering further anti-submarine helicopter procurement, with the possibility that the country will restart production of the Mi-14, a anti-submarine warfare amphibian helicopter.
Flight Global quoted Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov as saying in an interview with Russian Helicopters that there is "demand for such an aircraft" as the Mi-14.
Deputy Defense Minister Borisov added, "In the near future we will have to determine whether it would be a modernised Mi-14 or a new project of an amphibian helicopter, or maybe both at once."
You have 0 item(s) in your cart