Vladimir Mikhailov: It should be clarified that a state defense order is not yet in place, although the key details have already been thrashed out with appropriate fighting services. Also, some amendments will certainly be made to the budget, even if they are only minor ones. So I cannot give you specific sums now.
At the same time, following alarmist articles about the fate of the Black Shark helicopter, I have to say that these fears are over-exaggerated. Indeed, the helicopter, adopted for service in 1995, failed to make it to the forces, but the reasons for this had nothing to do with the Air Force. The economic crisis, default and other mishaps took their toll on the meager defense budget. At that time it was decided, correctly I think, to focus on financing promising research and development and upgrading the existing fleet of aircraft. If this had not happened, we would not have any aviation or design bureaus now.
Nevertheless the Air Force and design offices worked throughout the most difficult times. The Mil bureau unveiled the Mi-28N Night Hunter, followed by the long-awaited replacement for the renowned Mi-8 workhorse - the latest Mi-38 transport helicopter. Kamov in the meantime put the Ka-31 radar surveillance helicopter into regular production, made airborne the medium-range multi-role Ka-60 helicopter badly needed by troops, and developed a two-seater version of the Ka-50, called the Ka-52 Alligator. Also, the Black Shark went from strength to strength. Those who watched footage from Kyrgyzstan's Rubezh-2004 exercise noticed that the helicopter had changed. It is too early to say why this happened, but I am sure the Kamov firm has given the Air Force new capabilities.
Is it true that the Air Force is refusing to subsidize the Ka-52 project and will not purchase Ka-50s?
This information is absolutely groundless. The Air Force did not allocate huge sums to develop the Black Shark to abandon the project overnight. The Air Force is facing many tasks, and each calls for its own class of helicopters. In 2001, two Ka-50s flew combat missions in Chechnya, and did it well. The press featured conflicting reports about the maiden experience of the Black Sharks. Now I can state officially that the objectives set before the combat group of two Ka-50s and a target-designating helicopter were fulfilled successfully. The group's commander was later made Hero of Russia. It is a different matter that at the time the military budget was too small to provide troops with the latest equipment, and so priority was given to the Mi-24 modernization project as the least expensive way of providing overnight support from the air.
Still we were aware that the Mi-24PN was only a makeshift decision and continued subsidizing research and development on more advanced models, including the Ka-52 two-seater all-weather day- and night-time helicopter. It has already passed state tests for performance characteristics, and, considering the advanced stage of the program and this year's results, the Air Force has suggested increasing project financing. Nor did it forget the Black Shark. We are contemplating resuming manufacturing it in 2005.
It must be remembered that all these steps were made possible thanks exclusively to the firm line taken by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief - Russian President Vladimir Putin. He insisted on the need to increase the military budget and deliver state-of-the-art weapons to the troops, and also thanks to an extremely favorable economic situation in the country, which meant funds for re-equipping army aviation without detriment to the no less important state programs have become available.
What do you think of prospects for the new Russian helicopter gunships?
The prospects are excellent. Our helicopters are in no way inferior to foreign models of the same class and are even better in some respects. The tender held in Turkey showed this. As far as I know, the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation is considering putting out the Ka-52 to a newly announced Turkish tender. Not only are many foreign buyers looking at both the Ka-52 and Mi-28, but they are also negotiating the purchase of these aircraft. However, arms exports are the concern of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation, which will furnish you with a more detailed answer.
When then will the new-generation helicopters start coming in large numbers?
If the aircraft industry does not let us down, and the economic situation in the country allows us at least to keep up current defense spending, I believe that in 2006 the Ka-52 Alligator will be put into batch production, and two years later the same will happen to the Mi-28N. The ratio in which the Air Force will be buying these helicopters will be decided by the military political situation, i.e. the scope of threats. But both helicopter types will be bought. Any different decision would mean cynically squandering state funds.
