The combat vehicles are prepared for the flight too
Mi-24 will fly too
“Alligtors” will replace “Mi-24P” that are still actual
Practically noiseless vehicle may take off immediately from the place and land on a small piece of land what cannot be said about Mi-24. It needs a good running start. Besides Ka-52 is equipped with airborne avionics that has no analogs in the world.
Being loaded with unguided air-to-surface missiles
10 missiles from each side
Two more vehicles will accompany the helicopter – a filling and a launching ones.
Old tradition – the pilot slightly slaps the nose of the helicopter…
Mi-24 were the first to fly
Ka-52 helicopters follow them
Its max. speed is 310 km/h, it can carry 2800 kg that may include anti-tank guided missiles, missiles “air-air” or rocket missiles…
Stationary gun armament of “Alligator” consists of one 30mm gun 2A42 with ammunition of 460 missiles.
The crew consists of two persons who have to solve many complex tasks: reconnaissance, target designation, coordination of actions of combat helicopters groups.
It doesn’t take long to prepare Ka-52 for a flight
Mi-8AMTSH – a transport attack modification of famous Mi-8. Another new thing.
It began to be produced in 1997 in Ulan Ude.
As opposed to Mi-8 this modification has considerable changes of cabins that have been also armoured. Armour plates defend the nose and bottom parts of the vehicle.
A gun for protection of a rear hemisphere is a renovation too. In the nose part of the vehicles there are two more guns.
From thousands of details they create a helicopter.
On October, 29th, 2008 in Arsenyev, the Primorye region, “Progress” plant launched serial production of combat helicopters Ka-52 “Alligator”.
They say that Air Force will have to get 12 units till 2015.
Ka-52 development started back in 1994 and it made its first flight in 1997. Though serial production was postponed due to some financial difficulties.
Ka-52 may conduct operations day and night, in bad weather conditions either, applying all means of destruction. The command and recce vehicle Ка-52 allows to increase efficiency of grouped military operations. Besides, Ka-52 can be used as a training helicopter as well.
During the production they plan to improve the initial characteristics of Ka-52 by means of more powerful engines (2500 -2700 hp).
Today “Progress” is preparing ship-board type of Ka-52 for production, Mi-34S1 – light helicopter, Ka-62 – middleweight multi-purpose helicopter.
Final assembly shop
The process of building a helicopter takes about 9 months: from the first details to the first tests.
Multi-purpose all-weather combat helicopter Ka-52 “Alligator” is a two-seater modification of Ka-50.
Helicopter Ka-52, as opposed to its predecessor, has a wider fuselage nose and a cabin for two, where catapult pilot seats are located “side by side”. Both pilots with no restriction may control the flight. The cabin is armoured.
The helicopter has a unique manoeuvrability which helps to perform complex tasks in small air space and occupy an advantageous attacking position in the shortest time.
The helicopter has a rapid-fire movable gun and other nice weapons. According to its combat power it’s not inferior to Ka-50 and is superior compared to all other existing combat helicopters. The total weight of destructive means on the underwing holders is 2000 kg.
The test prototype of Ka-52 is made on basis of “Black Shark” for 85%. The helicopter became 1 ton heavier but the constructors did much not to lose combat abilities of Ka-50. Quite the opposite: two-seated Ka-52 has more abilities to fight at night, work in a group, in constant contact with land command centres. It’s the first helicopter in the world practice that can fight an air enemy.
Testing is the final stage, of course. It’s the flight-test centre.
