Alligator has become more farsighted and apt
On the attack helicopter Ka-52 "Alligator" a new unique radar was manufactured by OJSC "Corporation Fazotron-NIIR". Alexey Shvachkin, chief designer of the helicopter direction of Fazotron-NIIR Corporation, tells about its tactical and technical characteristics to the NVO observer Viktor MYASNIKOV.
- Alexey Mikhailovich, what is the place of the helicopter problem in the activity of OJSC “Corporation“ Fazotron-NIIR ”? What is its share in the total volume of orders of the corporation?
- At present, the percentage of work performed by JSC Fazotron-NIIR on helicopter-related topics has increased significantly compared with other works. And given that the serial production of the FH01 radar complex (RLK) for the Ka-52 helicopter is carried out as part of the State Defense Order, special attention is paid to them. In the total volume of orders of the corporation, the share of work on the helicopter theme is approximately 50%.
- What is the state of the radar work for the Ka-52 helicopter? Has its mass production begun, and are helicopters coming from the radar to the troops?
- In 2011, the government completed joint tests of the Ka-52 helicopter with the FH01 radar. Design documentation for the RLC is assigned the letter "О1". Serial production of the FH01 RLC launched in 2011 year. At the end of 2011 - the beginning of 2012, the Ka-52 helicopters with installed RLK were delivered to military units. Recently, I visited a military unit with Ka-52 helicopters with a group of specialists from Phazotron-NIIR, Inc., and Kamov, to train flight and technical personnel to work with the FH01 radar complex. In military units, they take modern equipment with great enthusiasm and strive to master it as soon as possible.
- What are the main tasks of the Ka-52 helicopter avionics complex and how does it expand its combat capabilities?
- The main tasks solved by the FH01 RCL are:
- detection of mobile and stationary ground (surface) objects;
- detection of obstacles such as uneven terrain, power transmission towers, high-voltage wires for information support of low-altitude flight;
- overview of the airspace and the detection of air targets such as "helicopter", "attack aircraft" in the forward hemisphere;
- control of airspace and detection of air attack missile systems in a circular area;
- exchange of information with the helicopter avionics;
- detection of radar-contrast landmarks, including for the tasks of correction of flight-navigation complex (PNK);
- detection of thunderstorm meteorological formations in the forward hemisphere;
- increased secrecy of work.
Thus, the presence of RLK on a helicopter allows you to:
- use it in all weather conditions and around the clock;
- reduce the time to search for targets due to a wide field of view in the front hemisphere and a longer range compared to the optical-electronic system of viewing and target detection, and the presence of information exchange between the RLC and the optical-electronic system allows the best use of the advantages of these systems;
- solve reconnaissance tasks;
- provide the helicopter avionics with information about the missiles attacking the helicopter;
- to solve the problems of PNK correction.
It can be seen from the above that the presence of a radar complex aboard a helicopter significantly expands its combat capabilities and increases its survivability.
- Will the radar created for the Ka-52 need to be modified when it is adapted to the Ka-52K helicopter?
- At the present time, as I know, on the Ka-52K helicopters it is planned to install the FH01 RLK, that is, without any changes. Considering that the Ka-52K helicopter is planned to be mainly used to support the landing during the landing, in the existing configuration it is quite suitable for solving these tasks.
However, in our opinion, for work on sea targets, it is necessary to obtain detection ranges of the order of hundreds of kilometers, which is physically impossible to implement in the millimeter wavelength range.
In this regard, our corporation is currently working on technical proposals for creating a dual-band RLC operating in the millimeter and centimeter wavelength ranges. We will submit these proposals to OJSC Kamov in the near future.
- Does the Fazotron participate in the modernization of the Ka-27 helicopters in service with the Russian Navy? At what stage are these works?
- Yes, our corporation is involved in the modernization of the Ka-27 helicopters. For this helicopter, we are developing a radar command and tactical system (RKTS), which includes not only the radar, but also the information and computing system of the helicopter. We are currently at the stage of conducting state joint tests. Compared with the existing helicopter, the upgraded Ka-27 will have longer detection and hitting targets. Modern types of information transmission in real time will be introduced both to ground (ship) command posts and to other helicopters in the group.
- And in conclusion, tell us what other work on the helicopter subject does Phazotron conduct or anticipate?
- We are preparing technical proposals for the RLC for the Ka-52K helicopter. We are also developing a prototype of a small-sized millimeter-wave radar for possible installation on a Mi-28MH combat helicopter.
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