Ka-52M Super Alligator
The Ka-52M ('modernized') is an upgraded version of the Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter from Russian Helicopters Group (part of the state tech corporation Rostec). Improvements include a longer-range fire and forget anti-tank missile, a new communications system, a new fire control system with an increased range of detection, sighting and navigation systems, and additional fuel tanks. The Ka-52M gained a targeting pod on a pylon its port-side stub wing [ which seems to be bolted-on rather than suspended] for the heavier and longer-range missile, referred to as “Item 305”. The Ka-52M missile armament has been standardized with the weapons suite of the Mi-28NM helicopter, another state-of-the-art Russian attack gunship, which has helped increase its striking range considerably. The Ka-52M is also furnished with a new phased array radar station and longer-range missiles.
At first glance, the helicopter has a very serious advantage over many other machines of this class, including the Mi-28N (but not the Mi-28NM). It received a millimeter-wave front-view radar complex “Crossbow”, which makes it possible to detect obstacles and ground targets and hit the latter more effectively. And also to fly at extremely low altitudes, in the mode of terrain mapping.
The new Ka-52M helicopter features an upgraded longer-range opto-electronic target detection and identification system, a new digital drive that would help increase the aiming accuracy of the gun. The upgraded helicopter also carries an active phased array radar and a longer-range missile. The upgraded helicopter can operate in any temperatures, including in Arctic conditions. Its running gear is outfitted with wheels with a higher load-bearing capacity and wear resistance and the LED-based lighting equipment while the pilots’ cabin features a new interior.
The KA-52M design features the best technical solutions: a longer-range gyro-stabilized optoelectronic target acquisition and identification system, a new digital drive to increase the gun’s aiming accuracy, new chassis wheels with disc breaking gear and enhanced wear resistance aircraft tires. The VK-2500 engine is mounted on the upgraded rotorcraft, providing the ability to fly at altitudes above 5,000 m. The static ceiling is 4000 m, which allows the helicopter to take off and land in hot climates and highlands. Also, the helicopter can be used in cold climates and in icing conditions. New airborne defense system and sighting station provides a large range of detection and recognition of targets.
The armament of the rotorcraft is especially impressive. This is a rapid-firing gun 2A42 caliber 30 mm with a total reserve of 470 rounds, located on the starboard side. Initially, the gun was created for the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle, but it perfectly fit into the design of the rotorcraft. The designers managed to place its main part exactly in the center of gravity of the Ka-52M, which ensured maximum stability when firing, since the gun is practically not subject to vibration.
The helicopter also received more protected fuel tanks. On an external suspension, the helicopter is capable of carrying up to 2000 kg of combat load. These are guided and unguided missiles, bombs, as well as containers with cannon weapons. The "Sturm-WU" complexes with the "Attack" missile guided by a laser beam are used as anti-tank systems. And - a more powerful "Vortex". This missile has a powerful tandem cumulative warhead with an armor penetration of 900 mm. At night, the missile is guided at a range of up to 8 km, during the day - up to 10 km. The missiles are supersonic, which allows firing at several ground targets at once.
The Ka-52M is equipped with the Argumentum-2000 aiming system and the SUO-806R weapon control system. Television and thermal imaging surveillance cameras, as well as a laser sighting system are placed in a ball case under the nose. The strongest side is the presence of an active protection system of the helicopter from missiles with infrared homing heads L370 "Vitebsk".
The rotor blades of the Ka-52M are equipped with a more powerful heating element, which will allow the helicopter to operate in the entire temperature range, including arctic conditions. The helicopter is equipped with landing gear wheels with a higher bearing capacity and wear resistance, as well as lighting equipment based on LEDs. The modernized helicopter also has a new cockpit interior that meets modern ergonomic requirements, including when piloting at night with night vision goggles.
There was initially an option of installing over the cockpit an aiming radar and an over-the-gun surveillance and radar warning [seen in the prototype, but not since]. Overhead radar appeared on the Mi-28 in Soviet times in the 1980s. And it appeared much earlier than on the Apaches, but Russia abandoned it because there were no weapons under it. First, the radar dramatically increases the range of the weapon. Anyone, at least "shot-forgot," at least "shot-hit." The further idea of equipping the Alligator with an over-hub radar was abandoned due to a significant deterioration in the weight, size and vibration characteristics of the helicopter.
In the "optics" it is hard to see what is on the ground, even with an infrared channel. The “attack” quite flies 7-8 kilometers, but the helicopter cannot “make out” something at such a distance. The radar pushes the "horizon" by 20 kilometers. Secondly, the radar makes it possible to carry out automatic target recognition and tracking with greater accuracy and stability. The empty "nose" of the machine is great for placing a radar in it. The Mi-28 has a rotary gun in its nose, so there is no way to place a radar there.
"Sagittarius" will simplify and speed up the exchange of data with other branches of the military and improve interaction with them. As it has now become known, new means of communication will allow the helicopter to work together with UAVs and other combat units. Depending on the current need, the Ka-52M will be able to receive information about the situation and targets or transmit it to other helicopters or other consumers.
The Sagittarius-M KRUS complex can directly participate in the strike. When using missiles with a semi-active laser seeker, KRUS is used to illuminate the target. With the help of "Streltsa-M" ground reconnaissance units search for enemy targets, the detection of which from the air is difficult. Then the target coordinates are transmitted to front-line aircraft aviation to strike. In this case, the strike can be carried out by aviation independently or with the direct participation of ground reconnaissance. Target designation is transmitted to an aicraft in an automated mode. While receiving data, the aircraft may be at a safe distance and not enter the enemy air defense zone.
The original Ka-52 Alligator HOKUM-B helicopter was created on the basis of the Ka-50 Black Shark HOKUM-A attack helicopter. Unlike the latter, it is a two-seater. The Kamov Ka-52 Alligator was designed to destroy tanks, armored and unarmored military equipment, manpower, helicopters and other aircraft of the enemy at the forefront and in tactical depth, in all weather conditions and at any time of the day. It can provide reconnaissance of targets, target allocation and hardware target designation for interacting helicopters and command posts of the ground forces, as well as fire support for the landing, patrol and escort of military convoys. The Ka-52 is equipped with devices for reducing visibility, electronic defense system and active countermeasures.
The Ka-52 Combat Scout Attack Helicopter is designed for destruction of tanks, armored and non-armored vehicles, enemy’s manpower and adversary helicopters in the front line or in tactical depth. The helicopter provides transfer of target reconnaissance, target distribution and target designation data to interacted helicopters and command posts of Ground Forces. Ka-52 has a high combat survivability and combat power, it can be operated round-the-clock, and it has a wide range of aerial weapons. The ‘Alligator’ is furnished with modern avionics and powerful armament while its coaxial rotor system and enhanced longitudinal control enable it to effectively maneuver and perform complex aerobatic operations. It is the only helicopter in the world that is equipped with the Ejection & Shock absorbing System.
The upgraded Ka-52M combat helicopter (Alligator) would gain more opportunities for using weapons on targets on the ground and in the air, the Russian Helicopters press service said on 28 May 2019. "Work is underway related to an even greater increase in the range of detection and recognition of targets and, accordingly, an increase in the possibility of using weapons to work both on the ground and in the air," the press service quoted the head of the holding, Andrey Boginsky, on improvements in the new machine. According to Boginsky, on behalf of the Minister of Defense, work was carried out to modernize the optoelectronic systems for the Ka-52M, which today has already proved its effectiveness. "Also in cooperation, the issue of increasing the armor protection of the machine and updating the energy supply system is being actively worked out. The second task is the unification of aviation weapons with our other Mi family helicopters," said the general director of the holding.
The latest Russian attack helicopter Ka-52M would receive an airborne cruise missile with a range of about 15 km [not the 100 km reported by some sources]. This was announced on 15 February 2020 by TASS a source in the military-industrial complex. “The upgraded Ka-52M helicopter would be able to carry the latest aircraft cruise missiles (KR)“ product 305,” the agency’s interlocutor said. He specified that “this helicopter KR can effectively hit any ground targets, including enemy armored vehicles, at ranges up to 100 km" [this figure is widely reported but is not plausible]The interlocutor noted that the Ka-52M "received an improved sighting and navigation system and a new cabin avionics." The machine also has a revised rotor group. According to TASS in March 2019, another source in the defense industry said that the latest Russian-made guided missile "product 305" at that time was tested on a Mi-28NM helicopter in combat conditions in Syria. The missile with a warhead weighing 25 kg can be used on a “shoot and forget” basis or in manual control mode with video transmission from the GPS directly to the helicopter pilot.
The upgraded Ka-52M helicopter received an improved airborne defense system against all modern man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and new ballistic protection. “The Ka-52M helicopter received an improved airborne defense system that will protect it from the entire existing range of MANPADS,” a source in the military-industrial complex told TASS.
BKO "Vitebsk" automatically detects anti-aircraft missile launches at a helicopter due to several ultraviolet sensors and calculates their coordinates. Then the suppression station of the complex blinds the homing head of the attacking missile, as a result of which it loses its target. "Vitebsk" can suppress both optical-electronic homing heads and radar ones. The Vitebsk also includes infrared countermeasures - the complex fires off thermal decoys, which, due to the burning pyrotechnic composition, interfere with the infrared homing heads of anti-aircraft missiles.
New developments in the field of materials science have made it possible to increase the security of the machine, but practically not to make it heavier. The proportion of anti-corrosion materials has also been increased in the Ka-52M fuselage design. High crew protection includes an armored crew cabin and a unique ejection system.
The main danger for the Ka-52 is the fire of heavy machine guns and automatic guns. The vital components of the helicopter are covered with titanium plates, while the controls and crew are in a titanium bath. However, such a reservation only protects against machine gun and rifle fire. Frontal armor provides protection against 12.7 mm bullets. And the armor in the lateral projection can only withstand the hit of a 7.62 mm caliber bullet. Therefore, shelling from a heavy machine gun can be fatal for a helicopter and its crew.
The rescue system on the Ka-52 is unique; it is not used on any other helicopter except the Ka-50. It is based on the K-37 ejection seat. When the pilot realizes that he needs to urgently leave the helicopter, he puts the system into action, at that moment the blades are shot off, a hole is burned with a special pyro cord in the cockpit glazing, and then the ejection rocket engine fires. For a special halyard, he pulls the pilot out of the cockpit, after which a parachute opens at a safe distance. This system allows crew to catapult almost from the ground and from an extremely low altitude, on which attack helicopters are usually used.
As part of the modernization of the Ka-52 project, an increase in the combat power of the machine was planned. On the “Alligator” would be applied a new airborne defense complex, which would significantly increase the helicopter's protection against damage by guided air-to-air and air-to-air missiles; additional generator for auxiliary power plant, which would increase its reliability; and folding blades, which would allow the machine to be stored in hangars. It is also planned to increase the mass of the payload, which would expand the tactical capabilities of the helicopter.
During the special military operation in Ukraine, a modernized Ka-52M reconnaissance and attack helicopter was tested. About it informed TASS 02 September 2022, citing a source in the military-industrial complex. “Currently, the Ka-52M is undergoing state tests, and the military decided to try the upgraded vehicle in a special operation. The helicopter performed very well. Based on the results of the application, representatives of the military department transmitted recommendations to the industry on the refinement and improvement of some systems, ”said the agency’s interlocutor.
On April 5, 2019, the Kamov company received from the Russian Ministry of Defense a contract for the Avangard-4 R&D project, the purpose of which was to develop the modernized Ka-52M helicopter (the R&D work for the development of the Mi-28NM helicopter at the same time was codenamed Avangard-3 "). Real work began much earlier than the contract was issued, and by this time the new equipment and weapons of the Ka-52M were almost ready. In June 2020, the Progress plant at Arsenyev in the Russian Far East, which produces the Ka-52, received an order to convert two helicopters to the Ka-52M version for testing. The first Ka-52M made its first flight after this modification on August 10, 2020. According to the contract, the Ka-52M was supposed to complete all tests and be ready for serial production by the end of September 2022. The first Ka-52M was demonstrated to the public at the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) in July 2021, and then at the Army 2021 exhibition in August. The helicopter received a modernized turret with an optical-electronic target designation station GOES-451M, an updated onboard communication system BKS-50M, as well as a weapon control system SUO-806PM, capable of using new weapons. The most significant addition to the helicopter's armament is the integration of the LMUR guided missile with a range of up to nine miles (up to 14.5 km). Other updates were made to the helicopter itself. The Ka-52M main rotor blades have more powerful heating elements, which allows the helicopter to operate in a wider temperature range, including in the Arctic, which has been the focus of much attention in Russian military strategy lately. The chassis is equipped with wheels of increased load and wear resistance, the helicopter also has external LED lights. The cockpit has improved ergonomics and is also better suited for flying with night vision goggles. In terms of performance, the Ka-52M (known by the factory as "Izdeliye 800.50") has a maximum take-off weight of approximately 27,000 lb (12,250 kg), a maximum speed of 186 mph (300 km/h), and a ceiling of 18,045 ft (5,500 m). ) and a flight range of 286 miles (480 km). The contract for the first batch of 30 Ka-52M for the Russian Aerospace Forces was signed on August 24, 2021 during the Army-2021 forum; of these, 15 helicopters were to be delivered in 2022 and 15 in 2023. Most likely, this contract has already been fulfilled. During the regular Army-2022 forum, the Russian Ministry of Defense placed another order for an unknown number of Ka-52M. In July 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that Ka-52 deliveries in 2023 had “doubled” compared to 2022, amounting to approximately 30 helicopters, if true. After about 18 months of fighting, by mid-2023 Russia had lost about 40 Ka-52 attack helicopters in Ukraine out of about 140 it had at the beginning of the war (across all types of attack helicopters, Russia had lost about 70 out of more than 400 at the beginning of the war). In addition to the Ka-52, Russia produces two other types of combat helicopters - the Mi-28N/NM and Mi-35M, both of which are produced at the Rostvertol plant in Rostov-on-Don. Along with information about doubling Ka-52 production, Shoigu announced that Mi-28 production will be tripled in 2023 compared to 2022 (that is, to approximately 50 units per year). Pyotr Butovsky published a very interesting article 21 July 2023 in “The Drive” entitled “Enhanced Version Of Russia's Ka-52 Attack Helicopter Appears”. He noted "this iteration of the improved Ka-52M version had not been seen anywhere until last week." The new iteration of its improved version, the Ka-52M, was nowhere to be seen previously. Media reports about the use of the Ka-52M in Ukraine had already appeared, but they were not supported by any photographs. For example, in September 2022, the Russian state news agency TASS reported “successful testing of this modernized helicopter during a special operation in Ukraine.” The Ka-52M in question appeared in photographs posted on the usually well-informed Fighterbomber Telegram channel. Among other things, this channel raises funds and donates flight suits, shoes, radios, navigation instruments, first aid kits, etc. to Russian pilots participating in combat operations in Ukraine. In photographs posted on 14 July 2023, pilots demonstrate some of the received gadgets against the background of the new version of the Ka-52M. The GOES-451M optical-electronic station is installed under the front of the fuselage. In the standard version of the helicopter, the GOES-451 turret is installed in this position. The turret houses a thermal imaging camera, a television camera, a laser rangefinder-target designator, a laser beam guidance system for anti-tank missiles, and a laser sight. GOES-451M payload sensors provide increased detection and recognition range to match the range of new weapons, including the LMUR missile. The payload manufacturer, Yekaterinburg-based UOMZ JSC, claims a tank detection range of 9.3 miles (15 km) via TV channel and 12.5 miles (20 km) via thermal imaging channel; target recognition range is 7.5 miles (12 km) and 5 miles (8 km), respectively. The ultraviolet sensor (direction finder) for missile approach warning (MAWS) L418-2 manufactured by GIPO (Kazan), which is part of the L418 “Monoblock” airborne defense complex. Regular Ka-52s, as well as previously seen Ka-52M prototypes, have the L370P2 “Vitebsk” airborne defense system with L370-2 sensors. Four of these sensors are located on the sides of the nose fuselage and tail boom, giving 360-degree coverage around the helicopter. The L418 “Monoblock” complex is produced by JSC “Research Institute “Ekran” (Samara). This is a modernization of the L370 “Vitebsk” complex, which operates in a wider frequency range and at longer ranges. The Ka-52M helicopter also has other new components of the L418 complex, most notably two L418-5 directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) station fairings manufactured by SKB Zenit JSC (Zelenograd) mounted on the sides of the lower fuselage, directly in front of the main landing gear. The new L418-5 station has an angular shape, whereas the previous L370-5 was a rotating sphere (nicknamed the “life egg”); a new SP3-1500 lamp (previously SP2-1500) is installed inside, generating modulated infrared and ultraviolet radiation to suppress infrared seekers of air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. The sensors of the L418 Monoblock complex were installed on Ka-52E helicopters sold to Egypt long before they appeared on Russian helicopters. This was due to the more stringent formal requirements of the Russian Ministry of Defense for equipment, as well as possibly additional functions required by the Russian military. The introduction of new equipment of this kind in Russia requires multi-stage testing, which is not necessarily necessary for the foreign customer. Similarly, Mi-28NE helicopters delivered to Iraq received on-board radars in February 2015, while deliveries of these helicopters with radars to the Russian Aerospace Forces began only at the end of 2017. The new radar installed on the Ka-52M features a small air intake on the underside of the fairing at the front of the fuselage; on the other side, symmetrically, there is another similar air intake. There are no such air intakes on any of the previously seen Ka-52 helicopters. A single, larger, but otherwise similar air intake can be seen on the prototype Ka-52K naval combat helicopter with tail number "103". And this leads to a probable conclusion about the purpose of these air intakes. On the Ka-52K (“103”), this air intake is used to cool the “Rezec” active phased array radar antenna, which is being tested on this helicopter. Prototypes of the Ka-52M had the same radar as the standard Ka-52 - FH01 "Crossbow-52" manufactured by JSC Fazotron-NIIR Corporation (Moscow). It is a Ka-band radar (8 mm wavelength) with a wide 31.5-inch (80 cm) mechanically scanned antenna in the nose of the helicopter. Its detection range for a large ground target (for example, a railway bridge) is 15.5 miles (25 km) or 7.5 miles (12 km) for a tank. The weakness of the FH01 radar is the impossibility of direct guidance of guided missiles with its help. To aim the weapon, information about the target must be transmitted by the radar to the GOES-451 optical-electronic station, which is the main means of targeting the Ka-52. As for the radar on the new version of the Ka-52M helicopter, most likely it is the B006 “Rezec” radar from the St. Petersburg company “Zaslon” (the same company produces the B004 radar used on the Su-34 front-line bomber). Radar V006, or RZ-001 "Rezec" has a fixed AFAR antenna with 640 transceiver modules. The radar operates in the X-band and, according to the manufacturer, can detect a group of tanks at a range of 25 miles (40 km) or a fighter at a range of up to 31 miles (50 km). The Resets radar is air-cooled, so it needs additional air intakes in the fairing. Although the Resets radar is the most likely station option for the Ka-52M, it is not the only one. Fazotron-NIIR, the manufacturer of the current standard FH01 radar, also has its own proposal. The upgraded FH02 radar has two separate antennas: a mechanical movable slot array for the Ka-band and an AFAR for the X-band. This solution provides simultaneous search for surface and air targets, implementation of advanced target detection and tracking algorithms, as well as greater reliability. X-band gives much greater range, although at the cost of lower resolution. According to the company, the tank can be detected at a distance of 12.4 miles (20 km) in the Ka-band or 21.8 miles (35 km) in the X-band. Serial combat helicopter Ka-52M of the Russian Aerospace Forces - photos posted on in the. The first prototype of the modernized Ka-52M combat helicopter during a demonstration flight at the International Aerospace Salon MAKS-2021 in Zhukovsky in June 2021. An unusually shaped container is clearly visible at the end of the left wing with a radio-transparent nose part with AS-UAV data transmission equipment for the use of a guided missile LMUR (c) Piotr Butowski A guided missile LMUR on the suspension of one of the prototypes of the Ka-52 helicopter (c) Russian Helicopters JSC " The standard optical-electronic station GOES-451 of the Ka-52 helicopter (left) and the new optical-electronic station GOES-451M of the Ka-52M helicopter (right) (c) Piotr Butowski Standard L370-2 (left) and modernized L418-2 (right) missile warning sensors (c) Piotr Butowski Standard L370-5 (left) and modernized L418-5 (right) directional infrared countermeasures stations (c) Piotr Butowski Airborne Radar FH01 "Crossbow-52" Ka-band with a mechanical scanning antenna, which is used on a standard Ka-52 helicopter (c) Piotr Butowski New airborne radar B006 (RZ-001) "Rezec" with an active phased array antenna, which may used on the modernized Ka-52M (s) helicopter Piotr Butowski FH02 airborne radar and its installation diagram on the Ka-52 (s) helicopter JSC Fazotron-NIIR Corporation GOES-451M L418-2 radar cooling air intake L418-5 DIRCM GOES-451 standard GOES-451M modernized
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