Portugal has decommissioned 6 Russian Ka-32 helicopters purchased in 2006. The rotorcraft, on which the country spent about 348 million euros, were used by firefighters and rescuers, Bulgarian Military writes.
Portugal faced a number of problems with the operation of the Ka-32, including those related to maintenance and obtaining airworthiness certificates.
The anti-Russian sanctions introduced in 2022 have significantly complicated the maintenance and operation of the Ka-32.
The commander of the Portuguese Air Force, Nuno Lemos, said that the Ka-32 is a versatile twin-engine helicopter that is suitable for a wide range of tasks, including cargo transportation and firefighting.
The helicopter has two main rotors rotating in opposite directions, which provides stability, maneuverability and high payload capacity. The maximum take-off weight of the Ka-32 is almost 5.4 tons, the maximum cruising speed is about 250 km/h.
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