Kamov Ka-52

. "Kamov Ka-50 & Ka-52

Country of origin. Russia

Type. Attack helicopter

Powerplants. Ka-50 - Two 1635kW (2190shp) Klimov TV3-117VMA turboshafts, driving two three-
blade counter rotating coaxial main rotors.

Performance. Ka-50 - Max speed 310km/h (167kt). Hovering ceiling out of ground effect 13,125ft. Combat range 520krn
(280nm). Endurance with standard fuel 1 hr 40min, endurance with auxiliary fuel 4hr.

Weights. Ka-50 - Normal takeoff 9800kg (21,605lb), max takeoff 10,800kg (23,810lb).

Dimensions. Ka-50 - Rotor diameter (each) 14.50m (47ft 7in), length overall rotors turning 16.00m (52ft 6in), height overall
4.93m (16ft 2in). Rotor disc area each 165.1 M2 (11 777.4sq ft).

Accommodation. Pilot only in Ka-50, or crew of two in Ka-52.

Armament: One single barrel 30mm 2A42 gun on right side of the fuselage. Two hardpoints on each stub wing can carry a
variety of weaponry, including up to 80 S-8 80mm rockets in four packs, or 12 Vikhr-M (AT-12) tube launched laser guided
air-to-surface missiles. Other options include gun pods and AAMs.

Operators. Russia

History. The Ka-50 (or Hokum' in NATO parlance) is one of two attack helicopters (the other being the Mi-28) that were
developed against a Russian army requirement for a new close air support helicopter.

Design work on Kamov's first helicopter for the then Soviet army began in 1977, and the first prototype Ka-50, the V.80,
flew for the first time on July 27 1982. Characteristic of a Kamov helicopter, the Ka-50 features two counter rotating coaxial
main rotors, which negates the need for a tail rotor and allows the construction of a simpler, more compact airframe.
Unusually for an attack helicopter though, the Ka-50 is a single seater, Kamov incorporating some of the advanced auto
hover systems developed for its naval helicopters to reduce pilot workload. Another unique Ka-50 feature is the ejection
seat - the main rotors are jettisoned before the pilot's seat is ejected. More than 35% of the Ka-50's structure by weight is
of composites.

The Ka-50 was reportedly selected in preference to the Mil Mi-28 in 1986, although in early 1994 new competitive
evaluation trials between the two types began. Both are in low rate low rate series production. Kamov is also developing
the FLIR and NVG cockpit compatible Ka-50N.

The Russian army, concerned with the heavy workload imposed on the pilot of the Ka-50, sanctioned the development of a
two seater with all weather, day and night capability, the Ka-52. The Ka-52 is unique among dedicated attack helicopters in
that it seats two side by side. Approximately 85% of the airframe remains unchanged from the Ka-50. First flight was on
June 25 1997.

Kamov is actively marketing the Ka-50 as the Black Shark and the Ka-52 as the Alligator on the world market and they
may yet find their ways into service with Middle Eastern or African nations attracted to its relatively low purchase price."

(source: International Directory of Military Aircraft 1998-1999)

KAMOV KOMPANIYA (Kamov Company)

KAMOV Ka-52 ALLIGATOR

Type

Combat helicopter.

Programme

Project revealed at 1995 Paris Air Show; mockup (converted from Ka-50 static test airframe) displayed at Moscow Air
Show, August 1995. Prototype (061 c/n 00601, believed converted from centre and rear fuselage of Ka-50 021), with
Sextant Avionique avionics, shown to press on 19 November 1996; displayed at Bangalore Air Show, India, from 3
December; first flight 25 June 1997, fitted with flight test nose, lacking sensors; first `official' flight 1 July. Ka-52 has
designation V-80Sh-1.

Current Versions

Ka-52: Basic two-seat version of Ka-50 with side-by-side seating. As described.

Ka-50-2: Common designation covering three different multirole export variants, all with HOCAS controls, Israeli avionics
(including state-of-the-art RWR, MAWS and laser warning) and MIL-STD-1553B/MIL-STD-1760B architecture. Intended
roles include anti-armour, armed reconnaissance and observation, CAS, air-to-air combat, helicopter escort, artillery and
naval fire correction, training and SAR. One single-seat version based on Ka-50, one based on side-by-side two-seat Ka-
52, one proposed tandem two-seater. Last-named forms the basis of Ka-50-2 Erdogan promoted to Turkey, with long-span
wings and folding pylon below fuselage supporting Giat 621 20 mm cannon mounting. When pylon raised (folding to
starboard) the cannon can fire straight forward. Provision for 3 tonne capacity external load hook with survivor's cage for
SAR. Increased MTOW g loading and maximum speed.

Design Features

Airframe 85 per cent similar to single-seat Ka-50, but front fuselage redesigned to accommodate two crew side by side.
Upward-hinged and bulged gull-wing type transparent canopy door over each seat. (Original canopy, built mainly from Ka-
50 components, replaced in 1998 by more streamlined unit with upward-hinged doors, but still proofed against 12.7 mm
armour-piercing rounds and shrapnel from 23 mm projectiles.) Bottom of nose recessed on starboard side to improve field
of fire of 2A42 gun. Flattened nose for avionics led to nickname (since adopted for marketing) `Alligator'. Ka-52 could be
used to detect and designate targets for a formation of Ka-50s, this being referred to by Kamov as `combat management'.

Power Plant

Two Klimov TV3-117VMA turboshafts; each 1,633 kW (2,190 shp). TV3-117VMA-SB3 (1,838 kW; 2,465 shp) in production
version.

Accommodation

Pilot and navigator/weapons operator/pilot or pupil have Zvezda K-37-800 ejection system, for simultaneous emergency
escape, similar to that of Ka-50. Full dual controls standard, including two colour and two monochrome SMD 66
multifunction displays.

Avionics

MIL-STD 1553B equivalent avionics suite with Russian and Western elements. Integrated by Sextant Avionique, France,
supplier of head-down display and NASH (Night Attack System for Helicopters) nav/attack systems, Topowl helmet-
mounted displays and image intensifiers.
Radar: FH-01 Arbalet MMW radar, probably by Phazotron, in mast-mounted dome.
Flight: Nadir 10 nav system integrated with GPS, Stratus laser-gyro AHRS and Doppler.
Instrumentation: Arsenal Shchel-V helmet-mounted sight for weapons operator.
Mission: Shamshit-E weapons control system, with TV, laser and radar elements, in ventral ball turret below cockpits.
Thomson-CSF FLIR (or optional Russian Khod FLIR), integrated with Rotor electro-optical (TV) sighting system in ball
above fuselage aft of canopy. Windows for laser range-finder and IR camera in nose turret.

Armament

As Ka-50 except only 240 rounds for 2A42 gun. Igla AAMs optional for export

Dimensions, External (Generally as for Ka-50, except)

Fuselage length, excl noseprobe, Ka-52 plain nose 13.53 m (44 ft 4Ѕ in)
and Ka-50-2

Weights and Loadings

Weight empty: 50-2 7,500 kg (16,535 lb)

Max useful load: 50-2 9,700 kg (21,385 lb)

Max fuel weight: internal 1,484 kg (3,271 lb)

external (4 tanks) 1,720 kg (3,792 lb)

Normal T-O weight: 52 10,400 kg (22,925 lb)

50-2 11,300 kg (24,912 lb)

Max T-O weight: 50-2 11,900 kg (26,235 lb)

Performance (estimated; 52: Ka-52, 50-2: Ka-50-2)

Never-exceed speed (VNE):

52, 50-2 189 kt (350 km/h; 217 mph)

Max level speed: 52 162 kt (300 km/h; 186 mph)

50-2 167 kt (309 km/h; 192 mph)

Max speed sideways: 52 43 kt (80 km/h; 49 mph)

Max speed backward: 52 48 kt (90 km/h; 55 mph)

Max rate of climb at S/L: 52 480 m (1,575 ft)/min

50-2 966 m (3,170 ft)/min

Vertical rate of climb at S/L: 50-2 792 m (2,600 ft)/min

Hovering ceiling OGE: 52 3,600 m (11,820 ft)

Service ceiling: 50-2 6,000 m (19,700 ft)

Range: 52: normal 243 n miles (450 km; 279 miles)

ferry 647 n miles (1,200 km; 745 miles)

50-2: ferry 626 n miles (1,159 km; 720 miles)

Endurance, 20 min reserves, 50-2: normal 2 h 24 min

with 2 auxiliary tanks 3 h 48 min

g limit: 52 +3

50-2 +3.5

(source: Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2001-2002)