The first Kamov (Ka) helicopters took off in the distant 1953. On April 14, the Ka-15 multipurpose helicopter became a pioneer of mass production created in the experimental design bureau (OKB) named after Nikolai Ilyich Kamov. The bureau of the famous designer repeatedly proved in practice its viability and practicality of the selected schemes. One of the distinguishing features of Kamov Design Bureau helicopters is coaxial propellers. This feature allowed the use of machines in various fields and areas (army, medicine, rescue and other equally important industries).
More than 60 years have passed since the first flight, and Kamov helicopters are still very popular. In the hands of Russian military aviation it is a formidable and effective weapon capable of performing the most complex combat missions.
Ka-15
At first, the Kamov helicopters were developed exclusively for the Navy. For a long time, the coaxial screw design was the hallmark of the design office. It made it possible to obtain well-controlled and highly maneuverable helicopters at the output, and all these advantages showed themselves perfectly with the relatively small dimensions of the machines.
One of the first and successful lines of Kamov design bureau equipment is Ka-15 helicopters. NATO extras gave this car an offensive codification of "chicken." It was this ship twin helicopter that became the first model for the conveyor and was released in 354 copies.
The development of the line has been carried out since the mid 50s of the last century. The design scheme and design features were approved by the Navy in early 1952. Kamov (helicopter designer) understood that the machine would be used on ship equipment, so he made the model very compact and relatively light. In its length, the Ka-15 is almost twice inferior to even the smallest modification of the Mi-1. Moreover, the designers managed to fit into such a small apparatus all the equipment necessary for flying.
Military tests of two models (single-rotor Mi-1 and coaxial Ka-15) on the cruiser Mikhail Kutuzov showed very impressive results for Kamov’s equipment. If the Mi-1 was noticeably limited in flight from the ship deck due to the tail rotor and a long tail boom, the Ka-15 quite successfully took off and landed on a small platform due to its small size, and in six-point marine conditions.
According to the test results, Soviet sailors were finally convinced that the ship-type air equipment could not do without the coaxial scheme, which Kamov helicopters possessed (all models).
The combat units of the Navy have been equipped with Kamov Design Bureau machines since 1957. Despite the good flight performance, the model was ineffective as anti-submarine equipment, and at that time it was a priority. One machine could pick up only two sonar buoys (tracking enemy submarines), control equipment was loaded in another helicopter, and the third contained deep bombs. The system is extremely inconvenient, so the Morflot in 1963 abandoned the Ka-15 in favor of new developments of the same design bureau.
Model Features
Flight performance of the Ka-15 helicopter:
- Ceiling - 3500 m.
- Range - 278 km.
- The maximum manned speed is 155 km / h.
- The maximum mass at takeoff is 1460 kg.
- Crew - 1 person.
- Cargo - 300 kg or 2 people.
- The diameter of the main screw is 9.96 m.
- The length of the frame is 6.26 m.
Ka-25
Helicopters of Kamov of the 25th series are ship-type anti-submarine vehicles. This model has become the key to the establishment of design bureau and domestic naval aviation as a whole. The Ka-25 was developed as a tool for warfare with nuclear submarines of a potential enemy.
For the first time on models of such a plan, a radar station with a circular view was installed to perform military tasks over the non-reference water surface. Thanks to its versatility and sensible design, Kamov 25-series helicopters have served in our fleet for almost 30 years.
The first flight of the Ka-25 took place on May 20, 1961, and four years later the car was put on an assembly line in the city of Ulan-Ude. Until 1969, the model was the only multi-purpose helicopter that has no analogues in the domestic aviation industry. But after Soviet designers presented the new Mi-24 combat helicopter, Kamov’s helicopters (see photo in the article) began to fly in the company of Mil cars.
The helicopter Ka-25 became an excellent military aid for sailors and completely suited them. The series was in service with our morflot until 1991, and the modification with target designation (Ka-25Ts) - until the mid-90s. In total, you can count 18 variations of the series for different purposes and areas. For the entire period of operation of the machines (1965-1973), about 460 pieces of Ka-25 equipment were assembled.
Machine specifications
Flight performance of the Ka-25:
- Ceiling - 4000 m.
- Range - 650 km.
- The maximum manned speed is 220 km / h.
- The maximum mass at takeoff is 7500 kg.
- Crew - 2 people.
- Cargo - 1100 kg.
- Passengers - 12 people.
- The diameter of the main screw is 15.74 m.
- The length of the frame is 9.75 m.
- Machine height - 5.37 m.
Ka-50
By the beginning of the 80s of the last century in the USSR, the main military helicopter for military use was the model of the designer Mil - Mi-24. The "old man" is still in the arsenal of our forces, but already at that time the military leadership considered that this machine did not meet all army needs.
Mi-24 created by the concept of "flying BMP". That is, the machine was capable of not only conducting assault operations, but also, if necessary, relocating the paratrooper squad. Such versatility, of course, affected the combat qualities of the Mil equipment. Moreover, Soviet intelligence officers increasingly came across information about the development and field trials of a new model of the US Air Force - An-64 Apache attack helicopter.
The design bureau carefully weighed the information received and responded to the Americans' development with a similar Ka-50 Black Shark strike machine. Helicopters of Kamov of the 50th series were released in June 1982 and became a real masterpiece of Russian military aviation, although they did not receive a real ticket to life.
Helicopter Features
The model became a full-fledged strike unit, which perfectly coped with the destruction of armored vehicles, engineering structures and the elimination of enemy personnel on the battlefield. The single-seat car with the already familiar coaxial design was equipped with a landing gear system and a catapult on a rocket-parachute principle. Such a system allowed the pilot to safely leave the helicopter at speeds of up to 400 km / h at an altitude of not more than 4000 meters without minimum restrictions.
Composite materials, which were innovative at that time, which accounted for about a third of the weight of the entire machine structure, significantly reduced the total weight compared to the previous generation of helicopters. It also allowed to increase the working life of individual units, and at the same time, the reliability and survivability of equipment.
Helicopters of Russia "Kamov" under the name "Black Shark" were produced in a small series by the piece. The latest copies were put into service with the forces of the Russian Federation in 2009. In total, you can read 15 Ka-50 vehicles, including testing equipment. By and large, this model has become an invaluable experience for the Kamov Design Bureau, allowing in the field to work out innovative technologies and new army equipment.
Helicopter Features
Flight performance of the Ka-50:
- Ceiling - 5500 m.
- Range - 1160 km.
- Maximum manned speed - 390 km / h.
- The maximum weight during take-off is 10 800 kg.
- Crew - 1 person.
- Cargo - 2000 kg.
- The diameter of the main screw is 14.5 m.
- The length of the frame is 13.5 m.
Ka-52
The experience gained through the development of the Ka-50 was fully implemented in the new Ka-52 Alligator shock-type multifunctional machine. The fate of the latest generation of Kamov helicopters can be called more successful.
Judging by the data presented by the Russian Air Force, 72 Ka-52 units are in service with our army. Moreover, the military entered into a long-term contract with the Kamov Design Bureau, which implies retrofitting with equipment until 2020 (about 150 multi-purpose attack helicopters of the Alligator type).
Distinctive features
The main difference between the new Ka-52 and the Black Shark is the appearance of the second pilot and the full-fledged ability to fly at any time of the day, in any weather. It is worth noting that the past generation of the Ka-50 could not conduct combat operations at night.
The Alligator modification was approximately 85% unified with the Ka-50. The brand new Ka-52 got a power plant, a tail and the middle part of the fuselage, a wing with a carrier system and plumage from the chassis. The front of the helicopter increased slightly to find a place for the second pilot. As the pilot’s rescue system, the same rocket and parachute catapult is used as in the Black Shark. The instrumentation in the cockpit received a major update. Now there are modern liquid crystal displays instead of traditional electromechanical indicators.
With the advent of the second pilot, the car became more reliable, since the load on the crew was divided in two. Moreover, the designers considered it more rational to arrange the pilots not in tandem (one after another), as is practiced in other attack helicopters, but shoulder to shoulder. Due to this arrangement of the crew, the coherence of work has significantly increased and there is no need to install an additional dashboard, which means reducing the weight of the entire structure and minimizing duplicate interference on the devices.
The first flight of the Alligator took place at the end of June 1997. The machine got to the conveyor only at the end of 2008 due to the production facilities of the Progress plant, located in the small town of Arsenyev. State tests at military training grounds were completed by 2011, and at the same time, the Ka-52 entered service with the Russian airborne combat units.
Machine purpose
The Alligator is designed to conduct combat operations in any weather conditions and is capable of eliminating the enemy’s armored vehicles along with the enemy’s manpower, as well as resisting enemy helicopters in tactical depths.
In addition, the Ka-52 confidently proved itself in reconnaissance operations. It can carry out hardware target designation and target allocation to the equipment interacting with it (combat aircraft and ground forces). The machine is able to provide fire cover for the landing, patrol the terrain and accompany any convoys, both civilian and military. Today it is the pride of Russian aviation and a universal military tool that is capable of performing a huge number of combat missions, and at a considerable distance from the base point.
Key indicators of the model
Flight performance of the Ka-52:
- Ceiling - 5500 m.
- Range - 1160 km.
- Maximum manned speed - 300 km / h.
- The maximum mass at takeoff is 10,400 kg.
- Crew - 2 people.
- Cargo - 2000 kg.
- The diameter of the main screw is 14.5 m.
- The length of the frame is 14.2 m.