Alexander Velovich/MOSCOW
The Kamov Ka-52 Alligator, a twin-seat, side-by-side derivative of the Ka-50 Hokum attack helicopter, was flown for the first time on 25 June at Kamov's flight-test base in Lyubertsy, near Moscow.
Sergei Mikheyev, Kamov's general designer, says that the helicopter will be part of the flight display at the Moscow air show in August. On 1 July, the helicopter was flown for the second time, although airspace limitations and flight restrictions at the Kamov test site limited the altitude of the flight to 100ft (30m).
The site at Lyubertsy is to be closed in several weeks, so flight tests will be resumed at Chkalovskaya, also near Moscow.
Mikheyev says that Kamov is offering Russian army aviation a mixed fleet of Ka-50/52s. The Ka-52 Alligator would be flown in roles such as battlefield reconnaissance, target identification, distribution and hand-off.
The two-seat variant of the Hokum will be equipped with the Phazotron FH-01 Arbalet (Crossbow) millimetre-wave radar. Given the size of the FH-01, it is likely to be nose, rather than mast-mounted. Mikheyev says that all Ka-50s in the Russian army aviation will be upgraded with a night/all-weather attack capability. This would require a retrofit programme for the eight Ka-50s in operation at Torzhok Army Aviation combat-training centre.
Russia's ministry of defence so far has not paid a rouble for the Ka-52 development programme, and there is as yet no production order for the twin-seater.
The Arsenyev Progress production plant, where the helicopter would be built, is virtually at a standstill with no salary payments for its employees for the past 13 months. In comparison, the Kamov design bureau pays salaries with a delay of around four months, the average monthly salary amounting to about $150.
The Ka-52 in the existing configuration is an airframe aerodynamic prototype rather than a helicopter ready for mission flight tests. Most of the sensor package has not been installed yet, and its development status is unclear.
The projected performance figures for the Ka-52 include a 10,400kg normal take-off weight, 11,800ft hoveri ceiling and 520km (280nm) mission range with full internal fuel load.
The helicopter will carry four Igla-V air-to-air missiles in all weapons configurations. Air-to-surface weapon loads include the carriage of up to four B8V20A pods with 20 S-8 rockets in each, or 12 Vikhr anti-tank missiles and two B8V20A pods. Alternatively, four 250kg bombs or KMGU munition-dispenser pods can be carried.
Source: Flight International
