Ka-50 "Black Shark" and Ka-52 "Alligator"

[Kingpin]

First of all some news:
- Russian army choose Mi-28 as standard attack helicopter for troops support and it will use Ka-50, Ka-52 on limited basis for special operations.
- Yesterday was annonced that army ordered 12 Ka-52 two-seater (don't know which version but i hope with tandem cocpit (no photos for this one))

Now photos:

Ка-50

http://www.kamov.ru/market/galler/50-2.jpg

http://www.kamov.ru/market/galler/50-1.jpg

http://www.kamov.ru/market/galler/50-4.jpg

http://www.kamov.ru/market/ka-50/50-12.jpg



Ka-52

http://www.kamov.ru/market/ka-52/52-14.jpg

http://www.kamov.ru/market/ka-52/52-12.jpg

http://www.kamov.ru/market/ka-52/52-13.jpg

http://www.kamov.ru/market/ka-52/52-6.jpg

[Kingpin]

Hehe. I found tandem version photo (but only of model not real helo) :lol:

http://www.brazd.ru/hely/russia/kamov/ka52/ka52_0066.jpg

[Eddie]

I see nothing...

Is the name of the tandem seat Ka-50-2 Erdogan? It is developed with Israel for the Turkish requirement, but in the end AH-1Z won. Or was the competition re-opened?

Again a mock-up:
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Riabsev/2026.jpg

[Kingpin]

Not exactly. Here ->

http://www.iraqwar.ru/show_image.php?id=886

[Kingpin]

As for Turkish tender all i know for this moment tender is not finally ended. But may be Turkey just trying to lower prices for AH-1Z when speaking about interest to Erdogan. Who knows...

[Eddie]

Yet another photo of the same (?) copter.

http://www.aeroshow.net/Aviation/Helicopteres/Ka-50/dossier01.jpg

Is there an example that flies?

[Russian Texan]

"Erdogan" is an insult to Ka50/52 and should never be made. Not only it is stripped down of all the good stuff, it is also one of the ugliest choppers ever, period.

[Guttorm]

I find it interesting that most Russian palnes and helos, tend to have this very ORGANIC look about them.

Funny. :)

[Dalleer]

So, how many KA-50's are there currently in service if any?

[Kingpin]

Nobody knows exactly.

Officially 2 Ka-50 was in Chechnya in 2000-2001 along with one Ka-26 stuffed with some equipment from Ka-52 for command & control feats. But it is too hard for one pilot to fly in mountains and to fire on targets. So two-seated Ka-52 was choosen for this purposes.

How much more of them - i don't know. Friend of mine said that he've seen many where he live (near airbase) but may be he's wrong (he is humanitarian guy ;) ).

[GazB]

The Erdogan is rather cool. A nice mix of Russian hardware and weapons and Israeli avionics and weapons.
The Gun turret design is awkward with a fold down turret and the 20mm GIAT cannon is a bit weak, but with over 700 rounds of ammo.

In the late 80s the Hokum beat the Mi-28 and was accepted for service. At least a dozen trickled into service, but in the early 90s (especially after desert storm which was largely fought at night to emphasise the American advantage in NVG) there came a requirement for night and all weather capability. Flying at night is a full time job and requires two crew, hense the Ka-52 and Mi-28N. The Mi-28N won and will enter service slowly. (Due to lack of money it has been Russian policy to develop upgrades for existing equipment and develop new equipment largely to keep the design bureaus current with technology. Because of this few new helos will enter service before 2010 and certainly not enough to replace the thousands already in service. Upgrades based on the new equipment will however be used to upgrade the hind and Hip helos in service to night and all weather capability so capability will greatly increase for minimum costs. (the hip and hind fleets are greatly in need of overhauls anyway, which they will receive with their upgrades).

[GazB]

I should add that the Ka-60 should enter service rather quicker than the other combat helos as it is a light helo with a 2.5 ton capacity and would be cheaper to use in the roles often carried out by the large Mi-8s. It replaces the Mi-2 and the Mi-8 in some lighter roles which it should perform much more efficiently (and cheaply), which is why they might come into service quicker. There is also a recon version with the night/all weather avionics of the Ka-52 in a role similar to the commanche but without the stealth... ie datalink target info to other assets like Helos, tanks, HQs, aircraft, or satellites.

Nice pictures by the way guys... notice the Erdogan actually has three weapon hardpoints with an outer weapon pylon often used for AAMs.