Kamov Ka-50 Hokum "Black Shark"

Summary

Description

The Ka-50's development originated from a 1980s Soviet requirement for a new-generation attack helicopter, leading to the V-80Sh-1 prototype, the predecessor to the Ka-50. The production of the helicopter was mandated by the Soviet Council of Ministers on 14 December 1987. The design, undertaken by the Kamov design bureau, utilized the firm's coaxial rotor system, eliminating the need for a tail rotor and enhancing maneuverability. During operational testing in 1985-1986, the pilot workload was observed to be comparable to that of a fighter-bomber pilot. Following initial flight and system evaluations, an initial production batch was ordered in 1990, and the Ka-50 was publicly unveiled in March 1992 in the United Kingdom. The "Ka-50" debuted at the Mosaeroshow '92 at Zhukovskiy in August 1992, and its first foreign debut the following month at the Farnborough Airshow. The Russian president authorized its fielding with the Russian Ground Forces on 28 August 1995.

The Ka-50 incorporates a coaxial contra-rotating rotor system, a characteristic of Kamov design, which removes the requirement for a tail rotor and enhances the helicopter's aerobatic capabilities. Constructed with emphasis on survivability, the Ka-50 features extensive all-around cockpit armor rated to protect against 12.7 mm armor-piercing rounds and 23 mm projectile fragments. The rotor blades are engineered to endure multiple strikes from ground-based automatic weapons. The Ka-50 is equipped with a NPP Zvezda K-37-800 ejection seat, which involves the pyrotechnic separation of rotor blades and canopy ejection prior to the rocket-assisted seat deployment, enabling pilot escape across the flight envelope. Navigation systems include an inertial navigation system (INS), autopilot, and head-up display (HUD), supplemented by sensors such as forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and terrain-following radar.

The Ka-50 is armed with a Shipunov 2A42 30 mm autocannon featuring selective fire capability, delivering between 200 and 800 rounds per minute. The cannon is positioned near the aircraft's center of gravity for firing accuracy and carries 460 rounds of high-fragmentation, explosive incendiary, or armor-piercing ammunition, selectable in flight by the pilot. In addition to the internal cannon, six under-wing and two wingtip hardpoints are available, allowing for carriage of over 2,000 kg of external ordnance. This can include rockets such as 80 S-8 80 mm rockets or 20 S-13 122 mm rockets, and various missiles. For anti-tank engagements, it can carry up to twelve 9K121 Vikhr or Ataka laser-guided anti-tank missiles. The Ka-50 can also deploy four 250 kg or two 500 kg bombs, utilize UPK-23-250 gun pods containing 240 rounds each, and may carry external fuel tanks.

The Ka-50's operational history includes deployment in the Second Chechen War, where it commenced combat operations against separatists in December 2000, utilizing live weapons for the first time in January 2001. Missions included the destruction of an insurgent ammunition warehouse with S-8 rockets and the elimination of a fortified camp using 9K121 Vikhr guided missiles. These operations demonstrated the Ka-50's airframe integrity, on-board systems, and armament effectiveness in mountainous terrain. Subsequently, Ka-52 helicopters supported Russian military intervention in Syria from 2015, providing defense for the Russian base in Latakia and escorting search and rescue helicopters. More recently, the Ka-52 has seen action in the Russian invasion of Ukraine starting in 2022, where it has faced successes and losses, with instances of shoot-downs reported. Outside of conflict zones, the Ka-50 participated in exercises such as "Boundary 2004" in Kyrgyzstan, demonstrating its high-altitude operational capabilities in extreme temperatures. While export interest has been noted from India and Algeria, Egypt operates a modified version of the Ka-52, designated "Nile Crocodile", with the Egyptian Air Force.

Main Variants:

• Kamov Ka-50: The original single-seat version with a coaxial rotor system and a rescue ejection system.

• Kamov Ka-50Sh: An upgraded version of the Ka-50 with enhanced night-attack capabilities, featuring the Samshit-50 system within a spherical FLIR turret.

• Kamov Ka-50-2 "Erdogan": A tandem-seat cockpit variant developed in cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries, equipped with modern avionics and a turret-mounted 30 mm cannon.

• Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator": A highly upgraded version featuring a two-seat side-by-side cockpit, a nose-mounted radar system, and increased armament capacity for the Russian Aerospace Forces.

• Kamov Ka-52K "Katran": A naval version designed for ship-borne operations, incorporating folding rotor blades, folding wings, reinforced landing gear, and capable of utilizing Kh-35 and Kh-38 missiles.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

No country is operating the Ka-50 Hokum "Black Shark" in 2025.

All operators

Russia

Armament

Missiles payload:

• Anti-Tank KBP 9A4172 Vikhr (AT-16 Scallion)
• Air-to-Air Short-Range Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer)

Photo of Ka-50 Hokum "Black Shark"

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