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| Specifications of the Russian Ka-52 Alligator Helicopter, Able to Maneuver Thanks to the Coaxial Dual Rotor Design |
Moscow - The Kamov Ka-52 Alligator all-weather attack helicopter is operated by the Russian Air Force. The helicopters made by the Kamov Design Bureau (part of Russian Helicopters) are characterized by their use of a coaxial twin rotor design.
The design of the double coaxial rotor or two coaxial contra-rotating main rotors makes the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter easy to maneuver and move fast. By using two rotors moving in opposite directions, the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter no longer needs a rotor on its tail. The use of two rotors provides more power, because the rotor in the tail usually absorbs about 15 percent of the power generated. Without a tail rotor, the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter becomes maneuverable and more powerful because it gets power from two coaxial rotors. Without a tail rotor, the Kamov Ka-52 helicopter can still maneuver in the event of an attack from behind.
Uniquely, the six propeller blades on the two coaxial rotors can be removed when the pilot activates the ejection seat to save himself.
Quoted from airforce-technology, the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter is powered by two Klimov VK-2500 turboshaft engines. Each engine produces a maximum take-off power of 2,400 horsepower (hp) and the engines feature a new full authority digital control system (FADEC).
The Ka-52 Alligantor helicopter can fly at a maximum altitude of 5,500 meters. The maximum speed is 300 km/hour and the helicopter's cruising speed is 260 km/hour. The helicopter can climb at a maximum speed of 16 meters/second.
The Ka-52 Alligator helicopter has a practical flight range of 460 km, while the ferry (long-range) flight range is 1110 km. The Ka-52 Alligator helicopter is 16 meters long, 4.9 meters high, and the main rotor diameter is 14.5 meters.
The coaxial twin-rotor design gives the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter the advantages of high power and carrying a lot of advanced weaponry. The maximum weight of the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter when it takes off is 10,800 kg.
The Ka-52 helicopter is equipped with an NPPU-80 gun mounted on a 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannon. The six external hardpoints on the wings can be mounted with different combinations of weapons, such as the VIKHR anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) and ATAKA missiles with laser guidance systems. The VIKHR anti-tank missile has a range of eight to ten kilometers.
Even the Ka-52 Alligator helicopters are equipped with IGLA-V anti-aircraft guided missiles and B8V-20 rocket launchers for unguided S-8 80mm rockets. Not to forget, the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter is equipped with the latest Izdeliye 305E air-to-surface missile. This guided missile can strike targets at a distance of up to 14.5 km at a speed of up to 230 meters/second.
For protection, the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter is equipped with armor weighing 350 kg which can withstand 20 mm caliber gun fire from the shortest distance. The countermeasures system is supported by an active IR and electronic jammer, a radar warning receiver (RWR), a laser detection system, an IR missile approach warning sensor, and UV-26 flares/chaffs in the wingtip fairings.