Kamov Ka-52 Alligator

The Kamov Ka-50 "Black Shark" (Russian: Камов Ка-50 «Чёрная акула», romanized: Chyornaya akula, English: kitefin shark, literally: black shark), NATO reporting name Hokum A, is a Soviet/Russian single-seat attack helicopter with the distinctive coaxial rotor system of the Kamov design bureau. It was designed in the 1980s and adopted for service in the Russian army in 1995. The Ka-50 is manufactured by the Progress company in Arsenyev. It is used as a heavily armed scout helicopter and has a rescue ejection system, rare for helicopters. During the late 1990s, Kamov and Israel Aerospace Industries developed a tandem-seat cockpit version, the Kamov Ka-50-2 "Erdogan" (Russian: Эрдоган, Turkish: Erdoğan), to compete in Turkey's attack helicopter competition. Kamov also designed another two-seat variant, the Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" (Russian: Аллигатор, NATO reporting name: Hokum B). The Ka-52's unit cost is US$16 million as of 2023. It has been deployed in the Russo-Ukrainian war, where according to open sources, dozens have been lost in combat.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
- Manufacturer
- Progress (aviation plant, Arseniev)
- Category
- Helicopters
- Country of origin
- Russia
- First flight
- 1997-06-25
- Length
- 15.86 m
Specifications
- Cruise speed
- 150 kt
- Max speed
- 170 kt
- Range
- 294 nm
- Service ceiling
- 18,000 ft
- Rate of climb
- 2,400 ft/min
- Max takeoff weight
- 23,810 lb
- Empty weight
- 16,976 lb
- Fuel capacity
- 130 US gal
- Powerplant
- Klimov VK-2500
- Engines
- 2
- Seats
- 1
- Length
- 52.5 ft
- Wingspan
- 47.7 ft
- Height
- 16.2 ft
- Number built
- 18
Specifications are approximate and may vary by variant. Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Reference and training only. Specifications vary by variant — consult the manufacturer and the official documents.