KUMERTAU, Southern Urals, May 31 (AVN) - The local aircraft plant started preparation for batch production of KA-31 radar surveillance helicopter system, Veniamin Kasyanov, Kamov helicopter firm deputy constructor general told the Military News Agency.
According to him, Russia will start supplies of KA-31s to India beginning from 2001 in accordance with the contract struck in August 1999. The Kumertau plant is responsible for glider, Kamov for mounting equipment and transferring the helicopters to India and Nizhny Novgorod Radiotechnics R&D complex is responsible for the radar.
KA-31 radar system, which includes a radar station and an antenna that rotates in flight, can detect up to 200 targets simultaneously and track 20 of them. The range of air target detection is up to 100-150 km, water targets - up to 250 km.
According to unofficial data, the contract cost for supplying India with four KA-31 helicopters makes USD92m.