The Kamov Ka-50 "Black Shark" Hokum

The Kamov Ka-50 "Black Shark": Hokum A) is a single-seat Russian attack helicopter with the distinctive CO-AXIAL system of the KAMOV design bureau.

The Ka-50 was designed to be small, fast and agile to improve survivability and lethality. For minimal weight and size (thus maximum speed and agility) it was—uniquely among gunships–to be operated by a single pilot only.

The helicopter has a number of unique characteristics including single seat to increase combat and flight characteristics and reduce operational costs. It was designed for remote operations, and not to need ground maintenance facilities for 2 weeks. The airframe is 35% composite materials with a structural central 1m 2 keel beam of kevlar/ nomex that protects critical systems and ammunition. The fully armored pilot's cabin can withstand 23-mm gunfire, and the cockpit glass 12.7-mm MG gunfire. The Zvezda K-37-800 pilot ejection system functions at any altitude, and enables a successful ejection at low altitude and maximum speed.

The KA-50 features unique maneuverability and operating characteristics due to the contra-rotating co-axial rotors. The coaxial counter-rotating rotor system negates the need for a tail rotor and its drive system. Because of this, this aircraft is unaffected by wind strength and direction, has an unlimited hovering turn rate, and gives a smaller profile and acoustic signature, while allowing a 10-15% greater power margin. The HOKUM is fully aerobatic. It can perform loops, roll, and �the funnel�, where the aircraft will maintain a concentrated point of fire while flying circles of varying altitude, elevation, and airspeed around the target.

BENEFITS OF TWO ROTORS AND REMOVING TAIL ROTOR

Using two rotors means that a smaller rotor with slower-moving rotor tips can be used compared to a single-rotor design. Since the speed of the advancing rotor tip is a primary limitation to the maximum speed of a helicopter, this allows a faster maximum speed than helicopters such as the AH-64. The elimination of the tail rotor is a qualitative advantage because the torque-countering tail rotor can use up to 30% of engine power. Furthermore, the vulnerable boom and rear gearbox are fairly common causes of helicopter losses in combat; the Black Shark's entire transmission presents a comparatively small target to ground fire.

KA 52 ALLIGATOR

Its a modified version of Ka-50 on which the recce and  target designation systems are installed. The modified "Hokum" required a second crew member to operate the optronics/radar recce suite. Kamov decided to use side-by-side seating arrangement, due to the verified improvements in co-operation between the crew members. This twin-seat version of the "Hokum" received a designation of Ka-52.

ka52 cockpit

SPECIFICATION

Country of Origin   Russia

Role                          Antihelicopter and gunship

Similar Aircraft         Hirundo A109, Mangusta A129, AH-64 Apache, AH-1F    Cobra

Blades                       Main rotor: 6 (2 heads, 3 blades each) Tail rotor: None

Rotor diameter         14.5 meters

Wing span                7.34 meters

Length                      rotors turning: 16 meters
fuselage: 15.0 meters

Height                       gear extended: 4.93 meters
gear retracted: 4 meters

Engines                     2x 2,200-shp Klimov TV3-117VK turboshaft

                                  External weapons load: 2,500 kg on 4 under-wing stores points.

Speed                        Maximum (level): 340 km/h (est.)
Cruise: 270-310 km/h
Sideward: 100+ km/h, Rearward: 100+ km/h

Turn Rate                unlimited

Ceiling                      Service: 5,500 meters
Hover (out of ground effect): 4,000 meters
Hover (in ground effect): 5,500 meters

Vertical Climb Rate 10 m/s

Range (km)              545 km (339 miles)