| Ka-50 "Black Shark" Ka-52 "Alligator" | |
|---|---|
 Kamov Ka-50 of the Russian Air Force | |
| General information | |
| Type | Attack helicopter,[1] scout helicopter[2] |
| National origin | Soviet Union / Russia |
| Manufacturer | Kamov |
| Status | In service[3] |
| Primary users | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Number built | Ka-50: 18–19[4] Ka-52: >196[5] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1990–present |
| Introduction date | 28 August 1995 |
| First flight | Ka-50: 17 June 1982[6] Ka-52: 25 June 1997[7] Ka-52M: 9 January 2023[8][9] |
| Developed from | Kamov V-80 |
The Kamov Ka-50 "Black Shark" (Russian: Чёрная акула, romanized: Chyornaya akula, English: kitefin 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[2] 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).[10] The Ka-52's unit cost is US$16 million as of 2023.[11]
- ^ Donald and March 2004, pp. 304–05.
- ^ a b Russian Scout Helicopters Get Stronger Archived 16 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Strategypage.com, 29 January 2010.
- ^ Вертолеты Ка-52 начали службу в Дальневосточном объединении ВВС и ПВО [Ka-52 helicopters began service in the Far Eastern Air Force and Air Defense Association]. aex.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- ^ Butowski 2022, p. 17
- ^ Butowski 2022, pp. 47, 74, 82
- ^ "Ка-50". narod.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 1 September 2004. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ^ "Ка-52". narod.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^ "Russian army receives 10 upgraded Ka-52M attack helicopters". airrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "ЦАМТО / / Гособоронзказ на ААК «Прогресс» в Приморье в 2023 году вырос вдвое". armstrade.org. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Hewson, R. The Vital Guide to Military Aircraft, p. 58. England: Airlife Publishing Ltd, 2001.
- ^ Vaniyan, Roman (24 May 2023). "AFU down Ka-52 attack helicopter worth USD 16 million". Ukrainian News Agency. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2024.