By 2019, the Russian aviation industry is due to present a technical design for a high-speed combat helicopter for the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The contract for the air vehicle is expected to be signed between the Russian Defense Ministry and the Russian Helicopters company during the Army-2017 military forum which kicked off outside Moscow earlier on Wednesday.
Speaking at Heli Russia, the country's annual international helicopter industry exhibition, in May 2017, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov announced the development of a high-speed combat helicopter which he said is due to make its maiden flight before the end of 2024.
"We have plans for a new state arms program for 2018-2025 which specifically stipulates the creation of a new high-speed helicopter," Borisov said.
Russian Helicopters' press service did not specify what company will become the lead developer of the project, only noting that several design bureaus and holding companies will be involved. The developments of the Russian companies Kamov and Mil are expected to be widely used.
#KA52 #RussianAirForce #Russia #AirForce
— Russian Air Force (@Russian_Air) 21 августа 2017 г.
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Experts, meanwhile, suggested that the new helicopter will be designed for performing special combat missions.
"The first modification of this high-speed vehicle will definitely be used as a combat helicopter to help conduct various special operations, forays into the enemy's rear, support subversive groups and reconnaissance battalions," Russian aviation expert Roman Gusarov was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying.
The Russian Mil Mi-28 is an all-weather, day-night, military tandem, two-seat anti-armor attack helicopter pic.twitter.com/HsR0YpsT8m
— 0815 (@88I15) 24 мая 2017 г.
According to him, this new vehicle "will take its own unique niche [in the Russian Aerospace Forces] without putting other helicopter modifications to the back burner."
Gusarov was echoed by Colonel-General Nikolai Antoshkin, former deputy commander of the Russian Air Force, who described the prospects for the development of Russian high-speed attack helicopters as "very good," according to RIA Novosti.
"At the front, a high speed allows a helicopter to quickly move over the battlefield and quickly escape after it accomplishes its mission. It also makes shooting down a helicopter like this a tricky task," Antoshkin said, touting the new speedy attack helicopters as "the future of frontline aviation."
