Russia to start production of Ka-52 combat helicopters

CHKALOVSKY (Moscow Region), December 26 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian government has approved the production of Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters at a plant in the Far East, the Air Force chief said on Friday. (Ka-52 Alligator helicopter production launched - Image Gallery)

The Ka-52 is a twin-seat derivative of the Ka-50 Hokum-A attack helicopter, and is designed primarily for reconnaissance and target designation purposes. It is similar to the U.S. AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. (VIDEO)

"The Russian government has decided to approve the production of the first batch of Ka-52 helicopters at the Arsenyevsk plant," Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin.

Deliveries of the first 12 Ka-52 Hokum-Bs to the Russian Air Force will start in 2009.

According to Zelin, the Russian Air Force will receive more than 100 new helicopters, including the Ka-52 and the Mi-28N Night Hunter, over the next four years.