Russian rotorcraft specialist Kamov is to form the basis of an integrated helicopter company, with its design bureau combined with production plants at Kumertau and Arsenyev, in accordance with a government directive. The move is likely to mean the demise of Kamov's alliance with VPK MAPO.
The Kumertau factory produces the Kamov Ka-32 multipurpose helicopter, while the Arsenyev plant manufactures the Ka-50 attack helicopter. Suppliers of major airframe components may also join the new company. Kamov general designer and general director Sergey Mikheyev indicates that these could include the Voronezh Mechanical plant, which makes main rotor gearboxes, and the Stupino plant, a producer of rotor bushes.
About 49% of Kamov shares are held by the state, with 51% distributed between employees and company managers.
A new umbrella company will initially be state-owned, but investor attention may be attracted by Kamov's bid, in tandem with Israel Aircraft Industries, to win a $4 billion contract from Turkey for 145 attack helicopters.
Mikheyev says that the merged company will generally focus on export programmes because "the internal [Russian] market has ceased to exist".
Source: Flight International
