Gazprom subsidiary seals deal with Kamov, estimated to be worth at least $50m (339 words)

Published: 10/24/2001

Veniamin Kasyannikov, First Deputy General Designer of Kamov, has confirmed receipt of a firm order for 50 Ka-226s from Gazprom subsidiary, Gazpromavia, for delivery in 2002-2007. The aircraft will be built at Strela and KumAPP and the deal follows options taken by Gazpromavia on the Ka-226 at MAKS-2001. Kasyannikov says that the last few months have involved discussions with the client regarding the production and specifications of the helicopters, with the result that the first batch of 22 helicopters would be produced with the Rolls Royce 250/C20R/2 turbo shafts. Later models, however, may have Russian or other power plants. The value of the contract remains undisclosed, but reports have suggested in excess of $50m. The first helicopters will be delivered in transport configuration, followed by specialist aircraft for monitoring gas pipelines and search and rescue, with two helicopters to be delivered by Strela by the end of the year. Recent reports from Korea concerning offsets have suggested that the offset proportion may be raised from 30% to 50% in the Korean AH-X attack helicopter tender for around 40 helicopters. However, Kasyannikov said that the company had not received any notification of Korean requirements for offsets on the Ka-52K, given the relative early stages of the tender process and added that the offset requests were only made in the case of Turkey, after the list of possible producers had been reduced to two. Nonetheless, he made it clear that Kamov was willing to be flexible and while currently focusing on addressing the questions that were being asked of it by the Korean authorities regarding the tender, it would review the request for offset when it arrived. Commenting on the development of the Korean domestic multipurpose helicopter, Kasyannikov said that at present Kamov was not involved, but expected some participation by a foreign partner and was awaiting a tender similar to that of the attack helicopter.

Article ID: 2852