Ka-52K without Mistral
Prospects Ka-52K without "Mistral"
or palubniki without DVKD ...
Talk about creating a naval modification of the Ka-52 "Alligator" began in the period immediately preceding the signing of the contract for the construction in France of landing-helicopter ships-docks (DVKD) of the type Mistral for the Russian Navy.
At this time, Arsenievskaya aviation Progress has already produced serial Ka-52 combat vehicles, which were undergoing military test operations at the 344th Combat Use and Retraining Center for Army Aviation in Torzhok, as well as in the third helicopter squadron of the 575th Second-Class Air Base in Chernihiv . The Ka-52 helicopters, designed primarily for ground-based missions, also had a corresponding integrated airborne complex, including the Arbalet-52 radar station and the gyrostabilized optoelectronic station GOES-451 - which makes it possible to detect targets at long range and use controlled by them weapon.
In 2008, General Designer of Design Bureau “Kamov” Sergey Viktorovich Mikheev, to my question regarding the development of “naval»Topics, literally answered the following (I quote the full version):
- The fleet theme will certainly evolve. It just so happened that over the past 20 years we did not help the fleet with anything - not because we didn’t want it, we just reduced funding. On the eve of the 90s, we have fully completed the re-equipment of the Ka-27 helicopter. But today we see a reassessment of our behavior in the waters of the oceans. The question of our presence is raised again, this task is familiar to us, we all passed through these problems in 70-80's. But today, the fleet is becoming different - a new generation, lower displacement, greater tension of ships, high speeds of movement. This requires a completely new approach. The helicopter will remain a necessary accessory of the combat ship, but it should be designed taking into account all the current circumstances. I think the next ship helicopter will be within 10 tons. At Ka-27 we already had 12,5 tons, a new car will return to the class of the Ka-25 helicopter, which weighed 7,2 tons. In terms of the tasks performed, the new machine will surpass the Ka-25. This is the development of a combat complex, means of electronic equipment. The machine will become more multi-purpose. In previous years, the main task of the ship's helicopter was the fight against submarines, but today the development of technology leads to the fact that the helicopter can perform other combat missions. With ship helicopters, everything is developing quite interestingly: today there is not a single combat mission in the fleet in which the helicopter is not used as a technological link. Helicopter target designator, rescue helicopter, fighting machine, delivering a fire strike.
Here it should be noted that the interview was intended for a closed, departmental publication, which implied a high degree of openness of the respondent.
From the general’s response it came out that three years before the signing of the contract for the construction of the DVKD, the helicopter developer for the new decker had only a general idea, not tied to a specific type of machine.
The first talk about creating a deck version of the ground Ka-52 began on the sidelines of the military-industrial complex in 2010.
In June 2011 of the year, a contract was signed for the construction of two DVKDs, and in October of 2011 of the year in the Barents Sea, Kamovians conducted flight technical tests aimed at establishing the capabilities of the Ka-52 helicopter based on a warship. During these tests, the Ka-52 made the landing and take-off from the helipad of the large anti-submarine ship Vice Admiral Kulakov. Subsequently, the Ka-52 made landing and take-off from the Mistral DVKD during the stay of the ship in St. Petersburg at the naval cabin.
In 2011, the developer determined the preliminary appearance of the ship version of the helicopter, which received the name Ka-52K (ship). The main differences from the land version consisted in the presence of folding blades and wings, inflatable ballonet in case of an emergency landing on water, as well as a modernized air conditioning system, adapted for use in marine environments. Later, the developer spoke about the intention to put on the ship version of the helicopter automatic landing system. Already in the process of building a helicopter, the installation location of the filling neck was changed.
Ka-52 in the final assembly shop of the airline "Progress". Photo author
In 2011, the design documentation for Ka-52K began to arrive at Progress, and the company began to prepare for the production of these machines. Initially, it was assumed that five serial helicopters would be ready by the end of 2014, by the time of the arrival of the first DVKD in Russia.
In 2013, the first fuselage of the Ka-52K came out from the main stock at Progress, which entered the final assembly shop. The company's management has repeatedly stated that the Ka-52K will go to state trials back in 2014, however, for various reasons, until the end of 2014, not one Ka-52K was up in the air during Progress. One of the reasons voiced by helicopter builders is not for the public, was the ambiguity of the final appearance of the ship machine, because of which the developer constantly demanded that the manufacturer make the newly adopted design changes, which made it difficult to bring the helicopter to the flight dates.
In October, the Ka-2013 helicopter (serial No. 52-01) crashed in Moscow as a result of the destruction of the thrust rotor. It is known that on that day the helicopter was flying as part of testing the air conditioning system (ACS), which is supposed to be installed not only on the marine version of the helicopter, but also on all the other machines of the Ka-03 type (it was decided to create a new ACR, one for the ground and marine machines). Later in the media, it was stated that the new hard currency successfully passed state tests.
At the end of 2013 of the year, during a visit to Progress Airlines, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said that the state had signed a contract for the construction of X-NUMX Ka-32K helicopters with Progress, which are supposed to arm an aviation group based on Vladivostok and Sevastopol ".
The prospects for the Ka-52K, used with the DVKD, are as follows: this is a combat attack helicopter, the main task of which is to provide fire support to the operations of the sea landing when capturing the coastal strip. In the framework of this combat application, the Ka-52K is capable of reconnaissance and destruction of enemy armored, mobile and stationary coastal targets, primarily mobile anti-ship missile systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, Tanks and enemy artillery - at the range of ATGM "Whirlwind", "Assault" or "Attack". It is expected that the Ka-29TB transport and landing helicopters capable of carrying out the tasks of transporting personnel will also be part of the DVKD aviation group. The numerical strength of the air group on one DVKD was also called - 8 Ka-52K helicopters and 8 Ka-29TB helicopters.
Based on the stated flight range, the Ka-52K shock will be able to inflict fire damage on the enemy, ashore, beyond the range of the coastal anti-ship missile systems, which will provide the necessary combat stability to the amphibious assault immediately before the landing.
On the actions of the same sea targets need to be said. It is assumed that the Ka-52K helicopters will be able to use the main anti-ship weapon of the helicopters - the X-35 RCC, which is the standard weapon for the Ka-27 and Ka-28 helicopters and capable of hitting ships and vessels with a displacement of up to 5 thousand tons.
CRP X-35 in flight. Photos from http://www.newsru.com
The X-35 rocket in the “helicopter” version has a weight of 610 kg, which corresponds to the permissible load on the internal pylons of the Ka-52 helicopters. Based on the allowed maximum load, the Ka-52K helicopter is able to carry at least two such missiles, and accordingly - to hit targets at a distance of up to 260 km. In this case, the Ka-52K impact capabilities will be determined not only by the presence of the anti-ship missile on board, but also by the integrated means of covering the situation - Ka-31 AEW helicopters or the currently available naval reconnaissance and targeting systems. This use of the Ka-52K will significantly enhance the "anti-ship" capabilities of DVKD.
The system "Helicopter - DVKD" seems to be clear and understandable. The place Ka-52K in it is defined quite worthy and meaningful. The situation would look completely different if, nevertheless, France, as it is now declaring (December 2014), does not give Russia the constructed ships.
Will Ka-52K have a place in the weapons system of the Russian Navy?
I answer immediately - there is!
Initially, the DVKD were focused on the Pacific region, where Russia has unresolved territorial disputes with Japan, as well as the Arctic, the importance of which everyone understands today. In the design of DVKD, intended for Russia, even structural changes were introduced concerning the reinforcement of the hull in order to give the ship the ability to navigate in ice conditions of northern latitudes. Two DVKD ("Vladivostok" and "Sevastopol") were focused, primarily, to ensure control over the islands of the Kuril ridge - which are the stumbling block in the Russian-Japanese political dialogue. The four large amphibious ships available on the Pacific Fleet (Oslyabya, Peresvet, Nikolai Vilkov and Admiral Nevelskoy) are very worn out and, as a result, are not fully capable of maneuvering the fleet amphibious units in the Kuriles. To be more precise, due to the small number and wear of cash, the BDK, the 155 Brigade and the 3 B regiment of the Pacific Fleet marines have limited opportunities for operational maneuver. It is not by chance that in this connection, military training on the transfer of troops to the islands is constantly being held not only with the help of the BDK, but also with the help of aviation (including civilian), as well as civil courts. It is clear that the Kuril ridge delimits the exclusive economic zone of the Sea of Okhotsk (recognized by the international community at the beginning of 2014 of the year) and, consequently. represents an object of increased interest - both our and Japanese (with whom we do not have a peace treaty). But the Sea of Okhotsk is a shelf, it is a fish, it is a huge resource potential. From all this it follows that the Kuriles at all costs should remain ours. And the presence of two DVKD capable of carrying up to the battalion of marines, radically changed the balance of power in the region. Especially if there is an air group aboard these DVKDs that can not only "work along the coast" but also know how to deal with enemy ships (X-35 missiles).
And now we have learned that the DVKD will not come to the Pacific Fleet. Shortly before the official ceremony of transferring the Vladivostok DVKD to the Russian navy, due to the changed geopolitical realities, Vladivostok received a new place of registration (or, if you like, “port of registry”) - the Russian city of Sevastopol. In this article I will not talk about the military significance of Sevastopol - this is clear to everyone without me. We just admit that in the existing situation “Vladivostok” is more necessary there. Together with the aviation group, which, by the way, uses the ship as a place of temporary shelter, having the main base on the coast.
In Soviet times, when there were two handsome aircraft carriers on the Pacific Fleet - “Minsk” and “Novorossiysk”, the 311 th separate naval assault aviation regiment, armed with vertical takeoff and landing Yak-38 aircraft, was based at the aerodrome Pristan, under Romanovka. In Novonezhino based 710 th separate naval anti-submarine helicopter regiment, which was armed with Ka-25, Ka-27 helicopters and their modifications. These regiments "lived" on the "ground", and on the ships their "flying representatives" turned out to be only for the time the ship fulfilled the tasks of combat service. So under the DVKD in Primorye, a separate naval helicopter regiment was to be formed, where Ka-52K and Ka-29TB helicopters were to enter. Today, obviously, we can only talk about this in the plane of fantasy.
And Hollande said the impossibility of transferring to Russia the Vladivostok internal command and control center built in St. Nazaire.
What do we have in the end? But in the end, the Vladivostok crew is preparing to go home, economists consider the damage, lawyers are preparing claims, and the first Ka-52K with the serial number 01-01 is preparing for transmission to flight tests at this time. Whatever it was, Kamov intend to bring the helicopter to the letter “O”, recommending it for adoption.
So, Ka-52K without DVKD.
In a situation where there is no DVKD, the sea Ka-52K does not lose the combat capabilities inherent in it. In the same Pacific region, he will adequately be able to serve on the same Kuril Islands, providing the grouping of the Russian troops with its shock capabilities. Yes, he remains an excellent attack aircraft capable of working on ground targets, but he is also able to work on surface targets with the help of X-35 anti-ship missiles, moving firing lines off enemy ships further from the coast. The military operation of the Ka-52 helicopters showed its ability to operate for a long time apart from the main bases, which means that, for example, having the Burevestnik airfield as the main base, the Ka-52K units or pairs can be dispersed throughout the Kuril Islands, and calmly fly over the sea, annoying the Japanese "neighbors" with their presence.
Also, nothing prevents the use of the Ka-52K from warships with helicopter pads, for example, from the same Pacific anti-submarine "admirals" of the 1155 Ave., which do not have a "long anti-ship hand" as part of their weapons.
So, the Ka-52K project is completely relevant even without the French DVKD. And besides, today in the depths of the developer, another ship version of the "Alligator" is being born. The new helicopter, which is based on the Ka-52K, will not have strike weapons. He will be deprived of even an automatic gun. This will be a long-range radar helicopter. Fixed headlights (as opposed to the Ka-31 helicopter mobile antenna) will be installed on the sides of the hull, as well as in front and behind, which, together with a five-kilometer ceiling, will allow the new helicopter to illuminate the surface situation at a distance of more than 290 kilometers. And this, in turn, will make it possible to give the ship groups of the Russian Navy even greater combat stability.
or palubniki without DVKD ...
Talk about creating a naval modification of the Ka-52 "Alligator" began in the period immediately preceding the signing of the contract for the construction in France of landing-helicopter ships-docks (DVKD) of the type Mistral for the Russian Navy.
At this time, Arsenievskaya aviation Progress has already produced serial Ka-52 combat vehicles, which were undergoing military test operations at the 344th Combat Use and Retraining Center for Army Aviation in Torzhok, as well as in the third helicopter squadron of the 575th Second-Class Air Base in Chernihiv . The Ka-52 helicopters, designed primarily for ground-based missions, also had a corresponding integrated airborne complex, including the Arbalet-52 radar station and the gyrostabilized optoelectronic station GOES-451 - which makes it possible to detect targets at long range and use controlled by them weapon.
In 2008, General Designer of Design Bureau “Kamov” Sergey Viktorovich Mikheev, to my question regarding the development of “naval»Topics, literally answered the following (I quote the full version):
- The fleet theme will certainly evolve. It just so happened that over the past 20 years we did not help the fleet with anything - not because we didn’t want it, we just reduced funding. On the eve of the 90s, we have fully completed the re-equipment of the Ka-27 helicopter. But today we see a reassessment of our behavior in the waters of the oceans. The question of our presence is raised again, this task is familiar to us, we all passed through these problems in 70-80's. But today, the fleet is becoming different - a new generation, lower displacement, greater tension of ships, high speeds of movement. This requires a completely new approach. The helicopter will remain a necessary accessory of the combat ship, but it should be designed taking into account all the current circumstances. I think the next ship helicopter will be within 10 tons. At Ka-27 we already had 12,5 tons, a new car will return to the class of the Ka-25 helicopter, which weighed 7,2 tons. In terms of the tasks performed, the new machine will surpass the Ka-25. This is the development of a combat complex, means of electronic equipment. The machine will become more multi-purpose. In previous years, the main task of the ship's helicopter was the fight against submarines, but today the development of technology leads to the fact that the helicopter can perform other combat missions. With ship helicopters, everything is developing quite interestingly: today there is not a single combat mission in the fleet in which the helicopter is not used as a technological link. Helicopter target designator, rescue helicopter, fighting machine, delivering a fire strike.
Here it should be noted that the interview was intended for a closed, departmental publication, which implied a high degree of openness of the respondent.
From the general’s response it came out that three years before the signing of the contract for the construction of the DVKD, the helicopter developer for the new decker had only a general idea, not tied to a specific type of machine.
The first talk about creating a deck version of the ground Ka-52 began on the sidelines of the military-industrial complex in 2010.
In June 2011 of the year, a contract was signed for the construction of two DVKDs, and in October of 2011 of the year in the Barents Sea, Kamovians conducted flight technical tests aimed at establishing the capabilities of the Ka-52 helicopter based on a warship. During these tests, the Ka-52 made the landing and take-off from the helipad of the large anti-submarine ship Vice Admiral Kulakov. Subsequently, the Ka-52 made landing and take-off from the Mistral DVKD during the stay of the ship in St. Petersburg at the naval cabin.
In 2011, the developer determined the preliminary appearance of the ship version of the helicopter, which received the name Ka-52K (ship). The main differences from the land version consisted in the presence of folding blades and wings, inflatable ballonet in case of an emergency landing on water, as well as a modernized air conditioning system, adapted for use in marine environments. Later, the developer spoke about the intention to put on the ship version of the helicopter automatic landing system. Already in the process of building a helicopter, the installation location of the filling neck was changed.
Ka-52 in the final assembly shop of the airline "Progress". Photo author
In 2011, the design documentation for Ka-52K began to arrive at Progress, and the company began to prepare for the production of these machines. Initially, it was assumed that five serial helicopters would be ready by the end of 2014, by the time of the arrival of the first DVKD in Russia.
In 2013, the first fuselage of the Ka-52K came out from the main stock at Progress, which entered the final assembly shop. The company's management has repeatedly stated that the Ka-52K will go to state trials back in 2014, however, for various reasons, until the end of 2014, not one Ka-52K was up in the air during Progress. One of the reasons voiced by helicopter builders is not for the public, was the ambiguity of the final appearance of the ship machine, because of which the developer constantly demanded that the manufacturer make the newly adopted design changes, which made it difficult to bring the helicopter to the flight dates.
In October, the Ka-2013 helicopter (serial No. 52-01) crashed in Moscow as a result of the destruction of the thrust rotor. It is known that on that day the helicopter was flying as part of testing the air conditioning system (ACS), which is supposed to be installed not only on the marine version of the helicopter, but also on all the other machines of the Ka-03 type (it was decided to create a new ACR, one for the ground and marine machines). Later in the media, it was stated that the new hard currency successfully passed state tests.
At the end of 2013 of the year, during a visit to Progress Airlines, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said that the state had signed a contract for the construction of X-NUMX Ka-32K helicopters with Progress, which are supposed to arm an aviation group based on Vladivostok and Sevastopol ".
The prospects for the Ka-52K, used with the DVKD, are as follows: this is a combat attack helicopter, the main task of which is to provide fire support to the operations of the sea landing when capturing the coastal strip. In the framework of this combat application, the Ka-52K is capable of reconnaissance and destruction of enemy armored, mobile and stationary coastal targets, primarily mobile anti-ship missile systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, Tanks and enemy artillery - at the range of ATGM "Whirlwind", "Assault" or "Attack". It is expected that the Ka-29TB transport and landing helicopters capable of carrying out the tasks of transporting personnel will also be part of the DVKD aviation group. The numerical strength of the air group on one DVKD was also called - 8 Ka-52K helicopters and 8 Ka-29TB helicopters.
Based on the stated flight range, the Ka-52K shock will be able to inflict fire damage on the enemy, ashore, beyond the range of the coastal anti-ship missile systems, which will provide the necessary combat stability to the amphibious assault immediately before the landing.
On the actions of the same sea targets need to be said. It is assumed that the Ka-52K helicopters will be able to use the main anti-ship weapon of the helicopters - the X-35 RCC, which is the standard weapon for the Ka-27 and Ka-28 helicopters and capable of hitting ships and vessels with a displacement of up to 5 thousand tons.
CRP X-35 in flight. Photos from http://www.newsru.com
The X-35 rocket in the “helicopter” version has a weight of 610 kg, which corresponds to the permissible load on the internal pylons of the Ka-52 helicopters. Based on the allowed maximum load, the Ka-52K helicopter is able to carry at least two such missiles, and accordingly - to hit targets at a distance of up to 260 km. In this case, the Ka-52K impact capabilities will be determined not only by the presence of the anti-ship missile on board, but also by the integrated means of covering the situation - Ka-31 AEW helicopters or the currently available naval reconnaissance and targeting systems. This use of the Ka-52K will significantly enhance the "anti-ship" capabilities of DVKD.
The system "Helicopter - DVKD" seems to be clear and understandable. The place Ka-52K in it is defined quite worthy and meaningful. The situation would look completely different if, nevertheless, France, as it is now declaring (December 2014), does not give Russia the constructed ships.
Will Ka-52K have a place in the weapons system of the Russian Navy?
I answer immediately - there is!
Initially, the DVKD were focused on the Pacific region, where Russia has unresolved territorial disputes with Japan, as well as the Arctic, the importance of which everyone understands today. In the design of DVKD, intended for Russia, even structural changes were introduced concerning the reinforcement of the hull in order to give the ship the ability to navigate in ice conditions of northern latitudes. Two DVKD ("Vladivostok" and "Sevastopol") were focused, primarily, to ensure control over the islands of the Kuril ridge - which are the stumbling block in the Russian-Japanese political dialogue. The four large amphibious ships available on the Pacific Fleet (Oslyabya, Peresvet, Nikolai Vilkov and Admiral Nevelskoy) are very worn out and, as a result, are not fully capable of maneuvering the fleet amphibious units in the Kuriles. To be more precise, due to the small number and wear of cash, the BDK, the 155 Brigade and the 3 B regiment of the Pacific Fleet marines have limited opportunities for operational maneuver. It is not by chance that in this connection, military training on the transfer of troops to the islands is constantly being held not only with the help of the BDK, but also with the help of aviation (including civilian), as well as civil courts. It is clear that the Kuril ridge delimits the exclusive economic zone of the Sea of Okhotsk (recognized by the international community at the beginning of 2014 of the year) and, consequently. represents an object of increased interest - both our and Japanese (with whom we do not have a peace treaty). But the Sea of Okhotsk is a shelf, it is a fish, it is a huge resource potential. From all this it follows that the Kuriles at all costs should remain ours. And the presence of two DVKD capable of carrying up to the battalion of marines, radically changed the balance of power in the region. Especially if there is an air group aboard these DVKDs that can not only "work along the coast" but also know how to deal with enemy ships (X-35 missiles).
And now we have learned that the DVKD will not come to the Pacific Fleet. Shortly before the official ceremony of transferring the Vladivostok DVKD to the Russian navy, due to the changed geopolitical realities, Vladivostok received a new place of registration (or, if you like, “port of registry”) - the Russian city of Sevastopol. In this article I will not talk about the military significance of Sevastopol - this is clear to everyone without me. We just admit that in the existing situation “Vladivostok” is more necessary there. Together with the aviation group, which, by the way, uses the ship as a place of temporary shelter, having the main base on the coast.
In Soviet times, when there were two handsome aircraft carriers on the Pacific Fleet - “Minsk” and “Novorossiysk”, the 311 th separate naval assault aviation regiment, armed with vertical takeoff and landing Yak-38 aircraft, was based at the aerodrome Pristan, under Romanovka. In Novonezhino based 710 th separate naval anti-submarine helicopter regiment, which was armed with Ka-25, Ka-27 helicopters and their modifications. These regiments "lived" on the "ground", and on the ships their "flying representatives" turned out to be only for the time the ship fulfilled the tasks of combat service. So under the DVKD in Primorye, a separate naval helicopter regiment was to be formed, where Ka-52K and Ka-29TB helicopters were to enter. Today, obviously, we can only talk about this in the plane of fantasy.
And Hollande said the impossibility of transferring to Russia the Vladivostok internal command and control center built in St. Nazaire.
What do we have in the end? But in the end, the Vladivostok crew is preparing to go home, economists consider the damage, lawyers are preparing claims, and the first Ka-52K with the serial number 01-01 is preparing for transmission to flight tests at this time. Whatever it was, Kamov intend to bring the helicopter to the letter “O”, recommending it for adoption.
So, Ka-52K without DVKD.
In a situation where there is no DVKD, the sea Ka-52K does not lose the combat capabilities inherent in it. In the same Pacific region, he will adequately be able to serve on the same Kuril Islands, providing the grouping of the Russian troops with its shock capabilities. Yes, he remains an excellent attack aircraft capable of working on ground targets, but he is also able to work on surface targets with the help of X-35 anti-ship missiles, moving firing lines off enemy ships further from the coast. The military operation of the Ka-52 helicopters showed its ability to operate for a long time apart from the main bases, which means that, for example, having the Burevestnik airfield as the main base, the Ka-52K units or pairs can be dispersed throughout the Kuril Islands, and calmly fly over the sea, annoying the Japanese "neighbors" with their presence.
Also, nothing prevents the use of the Ka-52K from warships with helicopter pads, for example, from the same Pacific anti-submarine "admirals" of the 1155 Ave., which do not have a "long anti-ship hand" as part of their weapons.
So, the Ka-52K project is completely relevant even without the French DVKD. And besides, today in the depths of the developer, another ship version of the "Alligator" is being born. The new helicopter, which is based on the Ka-52K, will not have strike weapons. He will be deprived of even an automatic gun. This will be a long-range radar helicopter. Fixed headlights (as opposed to the Ka-31 helicopter mobile antenna) will be installed on the sides of the hull, as well as in front and behind, which, together with a five-kilometer ceiling, will allow the new helicopter to illuminate the surface situation at a distance of more than 290 kilometers. And this, in turn, will make it possible to give the ship groups of the Russian Navy even greater combat stability.
Information