Portugal will transfer six Ка-32А11VS transport helicopters to Ukraine.

This was announced by Helena Carreiras, Portuguese National Defense Minister, following a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels.

She stressed that helicopters would be “extremely useful for Ukraine, and our Ukrainian colleagues were very grateful for the assistance provided.”

One of the helicopters broke down as a result of the accident, so the Ukrainian side should repair it, said the head of the Portuguese Ministry of Defense.

“At the request of Ukraine and in coordination with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we will provide our Kamov helicopter fleet to Ukraine, which, due to the current scenario, sanctions imposed on Russia, we can no longer operate. In fact, they do not have airworthiness certificates and we will not even be able to repair them,” said Carreiras.

The point is to transfer helicopters as soon as possible, Carreiras noted.

She also confirmed Portugal’s readiness to participate in the European Union’s military assistance training mission to Ukraine. However, the forms of such participation are still being discussed.

Portugal has already transferred certain types of equipment, weapons, ammunition, armored vehicles, communication systems and drones, medical equipment to Ukraine, as well as expressed its readiness to receive refugees and wounded soldiers and train Ukrainian servicemen.

Ка-32 is a civil development of the Ка-27PS search and rescue helicopter, developed by the Kamov Design Bureau.

In 2007, Portugal acquired six helicopters Ка-32 1997 modifications under the designation “A11VS.”

As of 2018, these Portuguese helicopters were no longer flying due to air accidents and maintenance problems.

Ка-32А11VS is actively used for the transportation of goods on external suspension. It is possible to install various optional equipment.