Kommersant wrote that experts had no doubt that the state would soon complete the process of consolidating all domestic helicopter-making assets.
According to the paper, Kamov is one of Russia's two leading helicopter developers. It includes a design bureau, an experimental enterprise and a testing center. Its annual production is estimated at $80-$120 million. The MiG aircraft-making corporation manages the state-owned 49% stake in Kamov.
Denis Manturov, Oboronprom general director, said his company could acquire the Kamov helicopter producer by late September or early October. A source in Oboronprom said extra-budgetary resources would be used for the deal. Funds will most likely come from Rosoboronexport, the state arms selling monopoly and a founder of Oboronprom.
Experts said Oboronprom, with 82% of its stock owned by the Russian Property Fund and Rosoboronexport, would buy into Kamov soon. "Even powerful private investors from Sistema will hardly be able to shield Kamov from the almost inevitable process of large-scale restructuring and mergers in the Russian aviation industry and its helicopter sector, said Mikhail Barabanov, the scientific editor of the magazine Export Vooruzheniy (Arms Exports).
The Russian government started to consolidate scattered domestic helicopter assets in late 2004, Kommersant said. Today, Oboronprom is completing the process of uniting all Mil helicopter developers and producers. Once the country's two major helicopter developers are united, the state will concentrate all domestic helicopter design offices and enterprises in its hands. The holding's annual output will reach $800-$950 million.
