Kamov closes in on big turkish deal

In a move sure to amaze Western rotorcraft makers, Russia’s Kamov has announced it will sell a hoped-for total of 145 of its Ka-50-2 Black Shark helicopters to the Turkish military in a six-year contract worth some $2.1 billion. The deal, should it be formally sealed by year-end, said Kamov officials, will come as something of a shock to Bell Helicopter, which has been courting the Turkish government for years. According to Kamov, the sticking point in the deal came on the question of joint production, which Kamov allowed and which Bell reportedly resisted. Israel Aircraft Industries will cooperate on development of the Ka-50-2’s avionics.