Ka-50 Combat Helicopter
ka50_006.jpg (147418 bytes)The Ka-50 Helicopter is intended to engage various ground targets including armoured and soft-skinned vehicles, as well as slow and low-altitude aerial targets. The helicopter is efficient in performing combat missions in close vicinity to the enemy’s fire positions owing to its high agility, survivability and powerful high-precision armament.
High survivability of the helicopter is ensured by various means. Coaxial configuration without tail rotor, related control systems and gear box radically adds to the helicopter survivability. The main rotor blades made from super-strong plastics are capable of sustaining several direct hits. Composite materials, free from secondary destruction effect (splinters) proper to metals, amount to 35% of the helicopter load-carrying structure. In addition to bullet-proof 55mm thick glass the pilot’s cockpit is fitted with the armoured plates that can withstand lateral hit of 20mm projectiles. Fuel tanks, control, auxiliary power unit, hydraulic and other critical systems also have special protection. The landing gear and fuselage are designed to absorb ground impact over-loads. With one engine damaged the helicopter still can fly on the one remaining engine. The rotor swash plate control rods remain operational, even if one of them has sustained two large-calibre machine gun shot holes.
Prominent heat suppressers over engine exhaust ducts are to reduce the IR signature.
The Ka-50 is fitted with the world’s first helicopter emergency rescue system (the K-37 ejection seat, rocket-operated parachute system, jettisonable main rotor blades) intended to safely eject the pilot in flight and at the ground.
Avionics
The Ka-50 helicopter is equipped with advanced flight control, fire control and navigational systems allowing round-the-clock flights in any weather conditions.
The heart of the Ka-50 helicopter avionics is its precise target designation system with digitally coded communications equipment, to ensure secured data exchange between helicopters, and ground command posts. Each helicopter flying in formation, is displayed with its coordinates and heading indicated. When any of the helicopters picks up a target, the respective data is automatically furnished to the rest of the group enabling the commander to select the attach pattern and designate targets.
The head-up display and helmet-mounted target designation system provide the pilot with the integrated data necessary for the “nap-of-the-earth†flying and weapons control.
The advanced SHKVAL Automatic Sighting System ensures target detection and identification, precise guidance of the VIKHR ATGMs and use of 2A42 gun. The IR imager pod is mounted on the helicopter to provide for effective firing from all types of armament at night.
Armament
The Ka-50 can carry differentvariants of payload with total weight of about 2,000 kg on four underwing pylons. The pylons can be tilted downward to 10 degrees. Fuel tanks can be mounted, if necessary, on all the suspension points. Due to increased ATGM engagement range and high resolution of the sighting system the Ka-50 pilot is able to engage hostile armoured units at stand-off distances.
The Ka-50 fire power is based essentially on VIKHR Supersonic Antitank Laser-beam Guided Missiles with a maximum range of 8 to 10 km and a flexibly mounted 30 mm gun.
The combined warhead of the VIKHR Missile is fitted with different fuses. High accuracy jam-proof guidance system ensures effective engagement of different ground targets (with 900mm Explosive Reactive Armour) as well as the airborne targets flying at a speed of up to 800 km/h. The pilot selects required fuse in flight. The VIKHR guided missiles also are efficiently used to kill air targets, such as helicopters and strike aircraft, thus rendering air cover to friendly troops over the battlefield. The 2A42 Gun is standardised with the gun of the Army’s BMP-2 infantry combat vehicle. The pilot can select rate of fire, and type of ammunition supplied from two boxes loaded with armour-piercing and HE fragmentation rounds.
Maintenance
The time and workload problems of ground personnel preparing the aircraft for combat mission have been successfully solved. Electric hoists built in the pylons facilitate suspension of weapons weighing up to 500 kg. The supersonic missiles are suspended as an integral block; the stowage process of the belted ammunition into the boxes is simplified and mechanised. The on-board equipment is easily accessible for field inspection and servicing at ground level through large hinged door panels on the fuselage skin.
The Ka-50 is designed for long-time operation away from base airfields on unprepared pads.
According to Russian Air Force specialists and foreign experts, the Ka-50 is not merely another combat rotary craft: it presents a new trend in helicopter construction and Army aviation tactics. In terms of tactical and technical characteristics, the Ka-50 combat helicopter clearly outperforms its foreign competitors.
