Russia to Equip French Mistrals with Ka-52 Helicopters

The Russian Navy could equip the French Mistral Class amphibious assault ships with Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopters, according to Russian Helicopters holding executive director Andrei Shibitov.

Russia is in talks with France for the purchase of one Mistral Class ship for €400m-€500m ($530m-$660m) and the construction of three more vessels in cooperation with a French naval shipbuilder, according to Rianovosti.

The Ka-52 is an attack helicopter equipped with a 30mm cannon, Vikhr laser-guided missiles, rockets (including S-24s) and bombs.

The helicopter is also equipped with two radars, one for ground and one for aerial targets, and a Samshite night-time / daytime thermal sighting system.

Russia began developing the Ka-52 in 1994 with full production of the helicopters commencing in 2008.