/ world today news/On the night of June 9, it became known about another specific record set by the Russian attack helicopter Ka-52 “Alligator” in the area of the special military operation. In just one combat sortie, 18 (eighteen, Carl!) missiles from MANPADS were fired at the machine. And none of them reached the target, thanks to the effective operation of the Vitebsk air defense system. The Alligator returned to base without even a scratch.
A set of ultraviolet sensors BKO “Vitebsk”, working in automatic mode, quickly detect missile launches and accurately determine their coordinates. The suppression station then blinds the seeker (both radar and optoelectronic) and leads the missile away from the helicopter.
The main conclusion that emerges after the analysis of this combat episode: the Russian “Alligator” is a phenomenally durable machine! Able to successfully solve the most complex combat tasks. And representatives of the Ukrovermacht should be proud of the fact that sometimes they manage to simply shoot in the direction of the Ka-52.
The best thing is that the new generation of Russian helicopter, its unique characteristics, combat potential and competitive advantages are characterized by two statements on a common theme.
On November 8, 2018, the American Defense Blog magazine (naturally, without disclosing sources) published information about the identified “significant” shortcomings of the Ka-52 helicopters delivered to the Egyptian Air Force.
Technical problems are indicated with avionics, engine, navigation systems, etc. This is said to be the reason for additional purchases by Egypt of American AH-64E Apaches.
But this is what General Tarek Saad Zaglul, head of the Egyptian Armed Forces’ Armaments Department, responded:
“The Russian Ka-52 Alligator is a helicopter of the highest level of quality, not inferior to the American Apache. This is the most modern helicopter suitable for solving combat tasks, which has passed army acceptance at the highest level”.
And one more thing: “The information that appeared in the Western media about the problems allegedly discovered during the operation is the usual “false stuffing” aimed at eliminating competition in this segment of the African arms market.
Let’s compare a few basic technical and operational characteristics of the Russian Ka-52 and the American AH-64E (in brackets):
– fuel reserve, kg – 1500 (1100);
– combat load weight, kg – 2800 (1650);
– number of suspension points – 6 (4);
– power unit power, hp – 2200 (2000);
– speed (maximum), km / h – 310 (265);
– flight range (without PBT), km – 520 (480);
– rate of climb, m/s — 16.0 (12.3);
price, $ million — 15.0 (52.0−61.0).
And now more about the combat use of the Ka-52 “Alligator” during WWII. Let’s make a stipulation that we will talk not only about the Ka-52, but also about its closest “companion” – the Mi 28MN “Night Hunter”, since both are designed to solve the same set of tasks that can be referred to briefly as “Ukrovemakhta’s nightmare”.
The main tasks of the Russian army aviation, participating in the demilitarization and denazification of Bandera State, are: fire support of ground units, destruction of armored and special equipment, convoy escort, landing and delivery of military cargo.
And the most frequently used tactic lately is “night hunting”. Moreover, it is used not only by “staff fighters” Mi-28MN and Ka-52. According to the Ministry of Defense, helicopters Mi-24P, Mi-26T2B, Mi-35M and even some advanced modifications of the “veteran” Mi-8 are capable of successfully solving combat tasks around the clock.
Such capabilities are provided by the presence of unique on-board equipment: radar, thermal imaging, navigation.
According to the well-known aviation expert Major General Vladimir Popov, the night airstrikes practiced during the special operation are of particular importance. At night, according to the honored military pilot of Russia, the secrecy of the actions increases significantly, and with it, the safety of the helicopter crews.
In addition, strikes are carried out in the dark against stationary objects whose coordinates have been previously established by intelligence, or targets detected by the helicopter’s avionics in “free hunt” mode.
“The main characteristic of military operations in Ukraine is the high saturation of the theater with air defense systems,” he says.
“As a result, the execution of the mission during the day is quite dangerous, while at night the enemy’s air defense is generally weakened,” the expert notes.
“During the daylight hours, the Russian crews must perform complex maneuvers, using the features of the relief and the terrain, to minimize the risk of detection by the VSU radar,” explains Vladimir Popov.
And yet, despite the diversity of the fleet of special operations helicopters declared by the Ministry of Defense, the Ka-52 “Alligator” and the Mi-28MN “Night Hunter” increasingly play the role of the main forces for night air strikes on positions and objects of the armed forces of Ukraine.
And although these are conceptually different combat vehicles, they were created, as already mentioned, to solve the same set of combat missions.
In addition, during SVO, nocturnal hunters and alligators often operate together. Both machines are equipped with modern equipment for satellite navigation and thermal imaging surveillance systems, which facilitate the crew in the search, detection and destruction of ground targets. Their use more than doubles the effectiveness of combat use.
If we talk about the Ka-52, it is the optical-electronic system “Samshit-50”, which provides a search for both openly located and masked targets in the thermal and optical range at a distance of up to seven kilometers.
For terrain monitoring, detection of landmarks and obstacles, “Alligator” is equipped with TOES-520 optoelectronic tower system.
There is very little information about the avionics of the latest modification of the “Night Hunter”, but it is known that its ordinary H025 type over-body radar is capable of not only detecting targets at a distance of up to 25 kilometers, but also simultaneously accompanying four of them .
And its thermal imaging camera, combined with a rangefinder, provides target recognition at a distance of up to 10 kilometers, even in complete darkness.
Both “regular fighters” are armed with a wide range of missile weapons, in addition, both are equipped with a 2A42 (30 mm) automatic gun.
The coaxial Ka-52 is more maneuverable, which makes it indispensable for special operations, and the Mi-28MN is able to shell a significant sector of space without changing its position in the air, thanks to artillery. install, moving at sufficiently large angles.
“Both helicopters were more than successful, so it is impossible to determine which is more effective in handling the combat mission,” says Roman Guslarov.
“They harmoniously complement each other. These machines are developed progressively. Some technical solutions first appeared on one helicopter, then were used on another, they were “equal” to each other. The Mi-28NM is not a competitor of the Ka-52. They successfully work together,” says Roman Gusarov, head of the avia.ru portal.
It’s hard to disagree.
Thus, the tactics of night strikes with the means of the army aviation, used during the special operation, should be considered a significant step towards the further improvement of the technical means of ensuring the operation of reconnaissance-attack helicopters of the Russian Air Force in the dark.
Translation: SM
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