With the publication of alleged leaked documents on social media, open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources have indicated that Russia could be planning the sale of up to 48 Ka-52M attack helicopters for a “Foreign Customer 156”, with most analysts’ leading hypothesis currently pointing to the Chinese Armed Forces. These documents have not been verified by any official statement so far, but based on what can be seen, they would reportedly stem from leaked internal emails from Joint Stock Company Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company, the Russian manufacturer responsible for producing the helicopters in question.
Quoting some excerpts from the document: “Within the framework of the commission agreement reached on 18/01/2024, identified under number BP-24-0012-04-02 for the supply of Ka-52M helicopters to Foreign Customer 156 under contract No. R/2215674140238 dated 11/08/2023 (hereinafter, the Contract), it is necessary to ensure the manufacture of 48 helicopters and the corresponding equipment between 2025 and 2027 (…) In order to include in the supply agreement with the co-executor company the main terms of the Contract concluded between JSC Rosoboronexport and Foreign Customer 156, which is a mandatory requirement, JSC AAK PROGRESS will send the contractual documents to your address once they are finalized.”
It is worth noting at this point that, as can be seen in the top-right portion of the document, the recipient of the communication would be the Deputy General Director for Production at the Perm Powder Plant—an important industrial player in Russia specializing in the production of explosives. If the authenticity of this first letter were to be confirmed, it would point to initial steps taken to begin production by Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company, ensuring the necessary components through its supplier network.
In addition to this first letter, another document was also leaked describing the financing structure planned for the process, allegedly agreed between the aforementioned Russian state company JSC Rosoboronexport and Foreign Customer 156. Breaking this down, it reportedly предусматривает payment of 30% of the total cost of the helicopters and related equipment in advance, followed by another 50% once the Ka-52s were ready to be shipped, and the remaining 20% once the helicopters were already in the customer’s hands.
Even though it is evident that the sale of these helicopters was examined by the Russian manufacturer referenced above, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that the transaction was never officially confirmed. For that reason, the information available so far does not make it clear whether this was merely preliminary preparatory work or whether production of the Ka-52M units referenced in the leaked documentation actually moved forward.
What characterizes the Ka-52M helicopters?
To understand the type of platform mentioned in the previous paragraphs, it is worth starting by noting that the Ka-52M is the most modern variant currently available of Russia’s attack helicopter, incorporating various improvements that make it suitable for modern combat. One of these items is the integration of a new electronic suite and more powerful computing systems. In addition, according to the manufacturer, the new units feature a new radar that reportedly doubles the detection range of potential threats compared to the original model—even when operating at night.
Alongside these aspects, the platform has also been modernized to operate new types of weapons, including guided missiles with greater range and precision than those previously available. On the other hand, in line with current trends showing increasing use of unmanned systems, the helicopters have been equipped with systems that allow them to serve as nodes receiving information collected by drones over the battlefield—significantly expanding the crew’s situational awareness of the operating environment.
The Z-10 as a domestically produced alternative
Given this brief description of the Ka-52M—and the various analyst speculations pointing to China as its potential export customer—it is worth recalling that the Asian giant already fields domestically produced attack helicopters, namely the Z-10. These are medium-sized helicopters designed specifically to support assault missions, including the ability to operate from a ship’s deck to support amphibious operations, while also being deployable from austere airfields—making them a platform that can accompany forward forces without major difficulty.
Expanding on the details, it should be considered that these helicopters are now available with new engines produced by China’s own industry, providing greater power that allows them to carry more payload and also enjoy greater logistical endurance. In terms of armament, the platform also offers a wide range of options, including 30 mm cannons, TY-90 air-to-air missiles, and HJ-9 or HJ-10 anti-tank missiles, depending on the configuration.
In the absence of official confirmation of a Ka-52M purchase, it remains plausible to assume that the development of this platform could have undercut the arrival of its Russian counterpart in China’s inventory—though it could also reflect doubts in Beijing about the Z-10’s capabilities. This remains uncertain and is reflected in current debates among OSINT sources, although the continued use of the Z-10 in recent operations appears to tilt the balance toward the first option, even if the purchase of Russian helicopters had been examined in years past.
Another case of leaked documents involving alleged Chinese requests to Russia
By way of closing, it is also interesting to note that this is not the first time documents of this kind have been leaked in cases involving Russia’s military industry—among them, the potential sale of 20 new Il-78MK-90A aerial refueling aircraft to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. As we reported in October 2025, the published material laid out a delivery schedule between 2027 and 2028, which would allow the Asian giant to strengthen a refueling fleet composed mainly of Russian-built Il-78s and domestically produced H-6Us—both considered outdated platforms for the force.
However, in a similar way to what occurs in the attack-helicopter domain, China also has a domestic development aimed at becoming the required replacement today. We are referring specifically to the Xi’an YY-20, which Beijing officially commissioned in 2022, after the design demonstrated its capability in training exercises involving J-16D fighters from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), which were refueled via a probe-and-drogue system.
In that sense—and also considering the lack of any confirmation from the Russian or Chinese defense ministries—analysts argued at the time that it could be a solution intended to provide additional time for the development and induction of the YY-20 into the Asian country’s fleets. Another possible explanation would lie in an intention to diversify available platforms going forward, while the possibility was also raised that the new design might not be progressing as expected, or that it was simply a preliminary inquiry by Beijing to assess its alternatives.
Images used for illustrative purposes
You may also like: The Russian Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine Kazan conducted new launches of Oniks anti-ship missiles in the Barents Sea
