The KA-50 is unusual for an attack helicopter in that it is crewed by a single pilot/gunner, making it a very demanding aircraft to fly and fight in. A two-seater version, the KA-52, has also been developed.
Whilst the MI-28N Havoc will be Russia's primary gunship, the KA-50 will carry out the role of Special Forces support.
KA50 BLACK SHARK FEATURES
The Black Shark is designed to survive on the battlefield. The pilot is encased in armor designed to resist armor-penetrating rounds up to 12.7mm. The KA-50's rotors can take repeated hits from small arms fire. If the armor fails, a rocket-powered ejection system is installed for the pilot's emergency use. - contra-rotating co-axial rotors
- zero-zero ejection seat
- jam-proof laser designator for the Vikhr missiles
- fire-control system shares target data with other KA-50s on the battlefield as well as compatible ground units
- flare launchers for protection against IR-homing missiles
- computer-assisted flight & navigation management system eases pilot workload
The KA-50's double-stacked main rotor design eliminates the need for a tail rotor which makes the helicopter highly maneuverable at high speeds.
Armaments are fitted to hardpoints on two wings / pylons tipped with countermeasure pods. Up to 12 supersonic laser-guided vikhr anti-tank missiles can be carried, each with a range of 8km. A range of unguided rocket pods, mines and bomblets can also be fitted. The KA-50 carried a 30mm cannon beneath its nose. Firing either armor-piercing or explosive incendiary rounds, the 2A42 cannon can make short work of both armored and soft targets. Due to its contr-rotating stacked rotors, the KA-50 can point the weapon systems towards a target area whilst the helicopter continues moving along another axis. For this reason, the Black Shark's 30mm cannon only has a limited field of fire, unlike the turret-mounted guns on most other gunships.
The KA-50 has seen action against guerilla's in Chechnya,
KA-50 Attack Helicopter Specifications
The KA-50 carries a wide range of ordinance into combat
| Crew | 1 Pilot / Gunner |
| Engines | 2 x 2,200 Horse Power TV3-117VMA |
| Dimensions | L - 15.9 m W (wing span) - 7.3 m H - 4.9 m |
| Weights | 7,692 kg (empty) 10,800 kg (max loudout) |
| Max Speed | 310 km/h |
| Range | 460 km |
| Armament | 2A42 30mm Cannon (460 rounds of high-fragmentation and explosive incendiary) 12 x Vikhr supersonic laser-guided anti-tank missiles AA missiles unguided rockets |
| Avionics | inertial navigation system (INS) autopilot head-up display (HUD) FLIR (forward-looking infrared) terrain-following radar RWS (radar warning system) chaff /flare dispensors electronic jamming systems |
KA-50 Blackshark - the stacked rotor design eliminates the need for a tail rotor and allows the KA-50 to manouver at high speeds.
No comments:
Post a Comment