Kamov Ka-50 (Ka-50 "Black Shark" / Ka-52 "Alligator")



Role Attack helicopter, scout helicopter
National origin Soviet Union / Russia
Manufacturer Kamov
First flight Ka-50: 17 June 1982
Ka-52: 25 June 1997
Introduction 28 August 1995
Status Limited service
Primary user Russian Air Force (VVS)
Number built Ka-50: ~10
Ka-52: 5(prot.) + 35(serial)
Unit cost 500 million rubles (approx. $16 million) as of May 2011

General characteristics
  • Crew: One (for Ka-52: two)
  • Length: 16.0 m
  • Rotor diameter: 14.5 m
  • Height: 4.93 m
  • Disc area: 330.3 m²
  • Empty weight: 7,700 kg
  • Loaded weight: 9,800 kg
  • Max. takeoff weight: 10,800 kg
  • Powerplant: 2 × Klimov TV3-117VK turboshafts, 1,641 kW (2,200 shp) each
  • For Ka-52:
    • Loaded weight: 10,400 kg
Performance
  • Never exceed speed: 350 km/h (189 knots) in dive
  • Maximum speed: 315 km/h (170 knots) in level flight
  • Cruise speed: 270 km/h (146 knots)
  • Range: 545 km
  • Ferry range: 1,160 km with 4 drop tanks
  • Service ceiling: 5,500 m
  • Rate of climb: 10 m/s
  • Disc loading: 30 kg/m²
  • Power/mass: 0.33 kW/kg (0.20 hp/lb)
Armament
  • 1x mobile semi-rigid 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon (460 rounds total, dual feeding AP or HE-Frag)
  • A variety of payloads on the four under-wing hardpoints, including 23 mm UPK-23-250 gun pods (240 rounds each), 2 x APU-6 Missile racks, able to accommodate a total of 12 9K121 Vikhr anti-tank missiles, Vympel R-73 (NATO: AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missiles, 80 x 80 mm S-8 rockets and 20 x 122 mm S-13 rocket, Kh-25 semi-active laser guided tactical air-to-ground missiles, presumably S-25/S-25L high caliber rockets, 4x 250 kg bombs or 2x 500 kg bombs, 500 L (130 US gal) external fuel tanks. Reportedly, twin Igla light air-to-air missile launchers under each wingtip countermeasure pod (total 4 missiles). Maximum total payload 2,000 kg.
  • Two pods on the wingtips with flare and chaff countermeasure dispensers, 4 UV-26 dispensers each (total 512 chaff/flare cartridges in each pod)