On May 21, the management of Kamov OJSC announced the completion of construction and transfer of four Ka-52K Katran helicopters for testing. A new modification of the "land" attack helicopter was developed for operation on ships of the Navy. Currently, Ka-52K helicopters are used in tests. In addition, an order for the construction of such equipment is being carried out. Nevertheless, against the background of recent events, the further fate of the new attack helicopters raises certain questions.
On April 8, 2014, the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered the construction of 32 Ka-52K helicopters. The main reason for the development of this project and the serial construction of such helicopters was the need to equip the aviation group with new landing helicopter dock ships (DVKD) of the Mistral type, being built in France on a Russian order. A number of such helicopters should be based on DVKD in order to support the landing.
In the middle of last year, official Paris took an extremely strange position and refused to hand over the ordered ships to Russia. The first of the ships, according to the contract, was supposed to go to Russia in the fall of last year, but still stands at the wall of the plant in Saint-Nazaire. The transfer of the second ship was planned for the fall of 2015, but this event is currently the subject of controversy. In the context of the refusal (perhaps for the time being temporary) to France from transferring the ships ordered by Russia, some other questions arise. One of them is connected with the further fate of the ordered Ka-52K attack helicopters.
It should be noted that the problems with landing ships have not yet affected the progress of the Ka-52K project. So, the first flight of the experienced "Katran" took place on March 7, 2015, i.e. a few months after the French side suspended the fulfillment of contractual obligations. More than two months after the first flight of the Ka-52K, Russian Helicopters completed the construction of the first four helicopters of the new model, which are now to be tested. Thus, the refusal of Paris does not yet affect the progress of work on the project to create a shipborne attack helicopter.
Against the background of the controversy surrounding the Mistrals, there were reports about the possible further fate of the helicopters. So, in January, the Ministry of Defense announced that in 2015 the formations of the Eastern Military District will receive 22 Ka-52 helicopters. This number includes 10 Ka-52K helicopters, which are planned to be handed over to the Pacific Fleet's naval aviation. Probably, these shipborne helicopters were to be based on the first of the two new DVKDs. Nevertheless, in view of the refusal of France, they will have to serve at land airfields for the time being.
According to reports, the first Mistral-type DVKD was planned to be handed over to Russia in the fall of 2014, after which it was supposed to go to one of the domestic enterprises to install the necessary equipment and weapons. Thus, by the end of 2015, the Pacific Fleet could receive a new landing ship and attack helicopters for it. The transfer of the second ship was planned for 2015, inclusion in the fleet - in 2016. Obviously, by the time the second ship began service, the fleet should have received a new batch of Katran helicopters.
Earlier, it was repeatedly stated that the Mistral airborne group of the DVKD would consist of 8 Ka-52K attack aircraft and 8 Ka-29 transport-combat vehicles. In addition, there was the possibility of increasing the number of aircraft, depending on the specifics of the planned operation. For the "basic" configuration of two DVKDs, 16 Ka-52K helicopters are needed, not counting several backup vehicles. At the same time, 32 helicopters were ordered. It turns out that about 10-15 attack helicopters are out of work. Or they are not intended for new landing ships.
It is worth noting that such arithmetic would not have raised questions a few years ago. Initially, it was planned to purchase four ships from France. Each had to accommodate eight helicopters, a total of 32 machines. However, at the end of 2012, the Russian Ministry of Defense transferred the third and fourth ships of the series to the category of options. Now it was proposed to order them only based on the results of the operation of the first two DVKDs. Because of this, in particular, 16 Ka-52K attack helicopters were "freed", which will be built, but now, most likely, will not be able to get on the landing ships.
Such a difference in numbers may indicate that a certain number of "Katrans" should have been based on land airfields, complementing shipborne helicopters. Since the transfer of two Mistral-class ships is now a matter of controversy, it cannot be ruled out that all 32 attack helicopters will have to be based at airfields, without being able to work from landing ships.
Nevertheless, it must be admitted that in this case, naval aviation could do with Ka-52 helicopters of the base model. In the modification with the letter "K", some innovations related to basing on ships were applied. Changed the design of the landing gear and wing, as well as used blade folding units and anti-corrosion treatment of parts. When based on land airfields, almost all of these modifications are meaningless.
Back in September 2011, when the first test landings of the Ka-52 on the ship were carried out, representatives of the aviation industry made interesting statements. It was argued that in five years (ie approximately in 2016) Ka-52K helicopters will be able to be based not only on Mistrals, but also on other ships of the Navy. This means that several years ago, helicopter builders considered the possibility of basing new technology on various ships, not limiting their use only to promising DVKDs.
During the tests in September 2011, the Ka-52 helicopter landed on the stern platform of the large anti-submarine ship "Vice-Admiral Kulakov" (project 1155). The regular aviation group BPK pr. 1155 consists of two Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopters. For storage and maintenance of this equipment, such ships have two semi-sunken hangars in the stern superstructure. The known information about the dimensions of the Ka-27PL and Ka-52K helicopters suggests that the Katran is quite capable of fitting into the hangar of the BOD project 1155.
Ka-52 on the runway of "Vice-Admiral Kulakov", Northern Fleet, 2011-31-08 (photo from mil.ru, in decent quality - from Curious from forums.airbase.ru)
BOD "Admiral Chabanenko" - a view of a completely open hangar with a helicopter inside (photo from forums.airbase.ru from Atom44)
Similar hangars and landing sites are provided on various other domestic ships. Thus, at least in theory, the Ka-52K can be based not only on Mistrals and Project 1155 large anti-submarine ships. This feature of ships and helicopters provides greater flexibility in the use of aviation technology for solving certain problems. Nevertheless, the issues of basing helicopters are not limited to the overall "compatibility" of equipment. It is possible that such interaction may be difficult or impossible due to other factors.
When Ka-52K helicopters are based on ships other than the Mistral-type DVKD, questions arise about the intended combat missions. Initially, it was assumed that the "Katrans" would have to support the landing by striking at the targets of the enemy's antiamphibious defense. In this role, the attack helicopter is able to fully exploit its full potential with any available weaponry.
Placing the Ka-52K helicopter in the hangar of the BPK pr. 1155
The basing of Ka-52K attack helicopters on large anti-submarine ships, missile cruisers, patrol boats, etc. may be cause for doubt and controversy. It is not entirely clear what tasks an attack helicopter can perform when based on such ships. According to some reports, "Katran" will be able to carry anti-ship missiles, which will be used to attack surface targets. Such capabilities will, to a certain extent, increase the combat potential of helicopters. Nevertheless, the issue of using Ka-52K helicopters on various ships of the Navy requires special consideration and appropriate research.
The available information about the progress of the Ka-52K project and information about these helicopters suggests that France's refusal to transfer the built ships will not affect the fate of the new aviation technology. The ordered and under construction ship-based attack helicopters will find application in the naval aviation of the Russian Navy. It is unlikely that they will soon find themselves on a Mistral-type DVD, but they certainly will not be left idle. The navy will be able to operate this equipment both at existing land airfields and, in the future, on various ships. A few days ago, the military received four Ka-52K helicopters. It is planned to transfer 10 new vehicles of this type to the fleet during this year.
