Russian Alligator

Ka-52 

The Russian Ka-52 “Alligator” is a modified version of the single seat Ka-50 “Black Shark” that is specifically created by Kamov as an all-weather attack helicopter and is capable of attacking ground hostiles and low-speed air targets during daytime or at night. Originally, the Kamov proposal was to develop a helicopter dedicated to conduct battlefield reconnaissance, provide target designation, support and co-ordinate group attack helicopter operations. However, the economic hardship that struck Russia in the late 1980's prompted the Kamov’s Designer General to install the reconnaissance and target designation system in the modified Ka-50.

Ka-50

Now designated as Ka-52 “Alligator” (NATO reporting name Hokum B), the new version was fitted a side-by-side seating arrangement, giving an extra seat for the second crew that has the task of operating the optronics/radar reconnaissance system, a radar system with two antennas—mast-mounted for aerial targets and nose-mounted for ground targets and two day-and-night TV/thermal sighting spherical turret systems fitted under the nose and over the cockpit. The helicopter is controlled both by the pilots, can be used as a trainer and shares 85% of its airframe, parts, components and systems with the Ka-50.

The Alligator’s first flight was in 1997, it is powered by two VK-2500 (TV3-117VMA-SB3) turbo-shaft engines rated at 1,863kW. Maximum speed is at 310 km/h, cruising at 250 km/h and lateral at 80 km/h. Maximum take-off weight is 10,800 kg and can climb at a rate of 10 meters per seconds to the maximum altitude of 3.6 km.

Ka-52 firing missiles

Ground targets 1,500 meters away or low flying targets within a slant range of 2,500 meters can be hit by her mobile semi-rigid 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 dual feed cannon (AP or HE-Frag) fitted on the starboard side of the fuselage. It carries 460 high-fragmentation, explosive incendiary, or armour-piercing rounds. Six external hard points on the stub wings can carry a variety of bombs and weapons (weighing up to 2,000 kg.) such as S-8 and S-13 rockets and the laser-guided Vikhr anti-tank missiles. The helicopter uses a fire control system that shares information in real time to other aircraft, allowing it to engage a target spotted by another aircraft or a ground scout equipped with personnel-carried target designation gear. Active IR and electronic jamming units, Pastel (L150) RWR, Mak (L136) IR and Otklik (L140) laser warning systems and UV-26  flares are all installed for protection.

The helicopter has two versions, the Ka-52 “Nile Alligator” and the Ka-52K. The former is the Egyptian version of the Ka-52, it used an anti-corrosion materials, a reinforced fuselage structure and  different landing gears. It features updated avionics and a new cooling system for operating in hot climate. The helicopter is equipped with the new OES-52 electro-optical observation and laser targeting system and the Arbalet-52 Dual-band coherent pulse radar. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin named it “Nile Alligator”.

 

Ka-52K

The Ka-52K is the naval version of the helicopter. Its features include folding rotor blades, folding wings and life-support systems for the crew members. The fuselage and systems receive special anti-corrosion treatment and a new fire-control radar.

The Ka-52 Alligator was first deployed in the Russian intervention of the Syrian war in 2015, and is currently in service with Egyptian Air Force, Russian Air Force and the Russian Naval Aviation.

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