Russian Ka-52 Attack Helicopter Destroying Ukrainian Positions & Equipment

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Attack helicopter Ka-52 at work!

Ka-52 Attack Helicopter BBj

In the early 1980s, while comparative tests of the V-80 (Ka-50 prototype) and the Mi-28 were being conducted, the Kamov design team came up with a proposal to develop a dedicated helicopter to conduct battlefield reconnaissance, provide target designation, support and coordinate group attack helicopter operations.

However, the economic hardships that hit the nation in the late 1980s hampered this new development program.

This prompted Kamov's Designer General to choose a modified version of Ka-50 on which to install the reconnaissance and target designation system.

The modified "Black Shark" required a second crew member to operate the optronics/radar reconnaissance suite.

Kamov decided to use side-by-side seating arrangement, due to the verified improvements in co-operation between the crew members.

This twin-seat version was designated Ka-52.

In comparison to the original Ka-50, it has a "softer" nose profile and a radar system with two antennas—mast-mounted for aerial targets and nose-mounted for ground targets.

Dlkay-and-night TV/thermal sighting system in two spherical turrets (one over the cockpit and the second under the nose) are also fitted.

The Ka-52 has the side-mounted cannon of the original Ka-50.

It features six wing-mounted hardpoints compared to four on the Ka-50.

To keep the weight and performance on par with that of the Ka-50, the armor and the capacity of the cannon magazine/feed were reduced.

Also some flight parameters deteriorated: rate of climb dropped from 10 to 8 m/s and maximum positive load factor became 3.0 g.

Most of the problems were solved by installing the new VK-2500 engine.

The Ka-52 is approved for day, night and adverse weather conditions.

Manufacturing of the first Ka-52 airframe began in mid-1996.

Sries production was started in autumn 2008.[35] As of September 2010, the 696th Instructor and Research Helicopter Regiment, based at Torzhok Air Base, is operating eight helicopters, in varying degrees of capability and/or modification, for research and development.

December 2010, four new, series-production Kamov Ka-52s were delivered to the Air Base of the 344th Centre for Combat Training and Aircrew Conversion.

Russian Air Force Kamov Ka-52 cockpit
The first phase of the official tests (ГСИ) was completed in December 2008 and after that permission was given for the production of an experimental batch for phase 2 (ГСИ, including fire tests and the search for targets)

Serial production of the Ka-52 began at the Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company plant in Arsenyev, Primorsky Krai by end of the 2008.

After the completion of the state trials, the Ka-52 entered service in May 2011 with first operational units joining the Russian Air Force the same under previous State Defense Procurement Plans, the Russian Armed Forces was to receive 2 experimental and 24 serial Ka-52's by 2012.

The second long-term contract signed in 2011 worth 120 billion rubles is to provide the Russian Air Force with 146 Ka-52 helicopters in total until 2020.

In February 2018, the Russian Ministry of Defence expressed an interest to purchase additional 114 Ka-52s within the new State Armament Program for 2018–2027.