Ka-52 Alligator - Variants
Ka-52 "Alligator" / product 806 (prototype) - HOKUM-B - basic model of the Ka-52 helicopter, was the result of a deep modernization of the Ka-50 helicopter - HOKUM-A. The development of the Ka-52 multi-role combat helicopter began in 1994, the draft design was defended in the same year, and a mock-up commission was held in September. The production of the Ka-52 prototype began at the pilot production of the Kamov Design Bureau in 1996.
Ultimately, according to the results of the mock-up commission, the initial version of the Ka-52 was rejected, and the developer was ordered to completely redo the forward part of the fuselage and prepare new glazing for the cabin. The developer complied with the instructions - since then the helicopter has acquired its current appearance. And in the fall of 1996, the construction of the first experimental helicopter was completed, which was assigned tail number "061" ("product 806", 01).
The second, Arsenyev-built, prototype of the two-seat Ka-52 Alligator was flown on June 27, 2008. The second prototype was defined as the standard for future production vehicles. In turn, Arsenyev Aviation Company "Progress" named after. N.I. Sazykina began mass production of helicopters of this type - exactly in accordance with the existing state defense order, and on October 29, 2008, at the aircraft plant in Arsenyev, a solemn ceremony was held to launch the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter into mass production.
The first Ka-52 helicopters were equipped with serial TV3-117VMA turboshaft engines with a take-off power of 1620 kW, but thanks to the installation of main and intermediate gearboxes capable of transmitting increased power, it became possible to install more powerful engines on subsequent serial machines. Modernized turboshaft engines VK-2500 (TV3-117VMA-SB3) jointly developed by St. Petersburg OJSC Klimov and Zaporozhye OJSC Motor Sich [in Ukraine] with increased take-off power to 2400 hp. With. and the introduction of an additional emergency mode (2700 hp for 30 minutes). Equipping the Ka-52 with VK-2500 engines makes it possible to maintain the flight characteristics of the vehicle at the level of the single-seat Ka-50, despite the installation of a significant number of new and additional avionics and weapons systems.
Ka-52A - modification is mentioned in the annual report of Russian Helicopters OJSC for 2008. There is no other data. Perhaps this is the working name of the modification of the Ka-52 with a modernized sighting and navigation system, including the Arbalet-52 radar, and on-board communications and defense systems. To understand the capabilities, the Crossbow is capable of tracking up to 20 targets, "sees" a Stinger missile at a distance of up to 5 km, a tank – up to 12 km, an aircraft – up to 15 km. At the same time, it transmits data to the sighting and navigation systems, and warns of obstacles when flying at ultra-low altitudes.
Ka-52 "Alligator" - HOKUM-B (model 2011) - serial helicopters produced by AAK "Progress" model 2011. The helicopter is equipped with a standard on-board defense system, 6 hardpoints under the wing. As a rule, they are made in a new dark color. Apparently, not all helicopters produced in 2011 are made according to this option. In November 2011, the state testing program of the Ka-52 with a modernized sighting and navigation system - with the Arbalet radar - was successfully completed. The last batch of 2011 - 4 helicopters - were delivered to the Air Force (Chernigovka) with the Arbalet radar; later it is planned to modernize the previously delivered helicopters.
Ka-52K - HOKUM-B mod. - marine ("ship") modification of the Ka-52 helicopter. With the fading of the Korean tender, b 2000 the Ka-52K program lost its relevance for the Kamov company. However, the experience of working on it was not in vain, and the results obtained from the tests were used to further improve the Ka-52 for the Russian army. It was planned to base this type of helicopter on the Mistral helicopter-carrying landing ships of the Russian Navy. As of 2010, the first batch of helicopters was planned to be built in 2012. These plans were not implemented. Modified helicopters, designated Ka-52K, would form the basis of an air group of universal landing ships of the Mistral type, which were purchased by the military department for the needs of the Russian Navy (the ship version was distinguished mainly only by folding rotor blades and folding wing consoles ). The management of the Progress plant has already announced its readiness to begin serial production of such machines in 2013-14. (until 2012, the assembly of experimental machines of this type began). Egypt became the first buyer country.
Ka-52M modernized version of the Alligator attack helicopter received a new radar. The first 10 modernized Ka-52M attack and reconnaissance helicopters were delivered to the Russian army in January 2023. the Ka-52M is a modernized version of the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter, the design and systems of which took into account the experience of combat sorties. According to the developers, the machine has the ability to network with other aircraft. The helicopter has a new complex of onboard and ballistic protection against modern portable air defense systems.
Ka-52 construction numbers
The Ka-52 construction number is a sequence of 11 digits (until 2012, it was 13 digits). The number is marked on a helicopter in several places, for example at the bottom of the tailfin, underneath the tail plane and on the side of the aft part of the fuselage.
Russian military aircraft have two-digit tactical numbers (in training units sometimes three-digit), usually in red or blue with a thin white outline; this sample helicopter has a red '87' number with a black outline. Yellow or white numbers are rare. As a rule, aircraft of one squadron wear numbers of the same colour; occasionally, when an aircraft is moved from one unit to another, for some time, it may keep its 'old' colours. There are no strict rules to assigning these numbers. Usually, brand-new aircraft arrive from the production facility with successive numbers, but not necessarily. Known examples include one squadron with odd and the other with even numbers. One should not attach too much importance to these numbers, since they may be changed. For instance, after their return from Syria, the markings on many aircraft were revised.
The aircraft of the MoD (as well as other governmental structures like Rosgvardiya, Federal Security Service [FSB] and Federal Guard Service [FSO]) also have registrations consisting of the letters 'RF' and five digits; in this case, it is RF-13426.
Until the end of 2012, Ka-50 and early-production Ka-52 helicopters had serial numbers consisting of 13 digits. The first six digits denoting the manufacturer and version of the helicopter, and the last five digits representing the production batch number and the helicopter number in the batch. However, two additional digits were inserted between them, indicating the quarter and year of production. For example, one Ka-52 helicopter with the yellow side number '97' and registration RF-91264, had the construction number 3538264105002. This meant it was the second helicopter of the fifth production batch made in the first quarter of 2014.
The first three digits are always '353' - this is the code of the Progress production plant in Arsenyev. The exceptions are the first test Ka-50 helicopters, and Ka-52 '061, which have the first three digits of '879, the code of the Kamov workshops in Lyubertsy. The next three digits identify the version of the helicopter:
-
800 - test version of the Ka-50 helicopter; Ka-52 '061' also has this number. 805- is a series production Ka-50 helicopter, or 'izdeliye 800.05.
826 - series production Ka-52 helicopter for the Russian Air Force, or 'izdeliye 800.06.
820 - Ka-52K ship-based helicopter, or 'izdeliye 800.20.
830 - export Ka-52E helicopter, or 'izdeliye 800.30.
850 - modernised Ka-52M helicopter, or 'izdeliye 800.50.
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