Putin visit ignites demand for Russian helos in Mideast
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent Middle East tour triggered the signing of a $25 million contract to supply six Kamov Ka-226 light helicopters to

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent Middle East tour triggered the signing of a $25 million contract to supply six Kamov Ka-226 light helicopters to Jordan over the next two years. The deal is a breakthrough for Russian helicopter manufacturers as Jordan previously bought only Western-built rotorcraft.

The agreement calls for partial assembly in that country of supplied component kits. The work will be completed at the Russian-Jordanian Oboronprom Middle East helicopter assembly facility, created in March 2006 by Russia’s Oboronprom state corporation and Jordan’s Orangeville Consultants.