Russia's Ka‑52 fleet dwindles amid mounting losses
The Russians have lost another Ka-52 Alligator helicopter. These are among Russia's newest aircraft, and their numbers have rapidly decreased. We present the performance of the Ka-52 Alligator helicopters.
The Russian channel on Telegram, Fighterbomber, reported the loss of a Ka-52 Alligator helicopter. One of the two pilots survived the shootdown. Considering the list maintained by the OSINT group oryxspioenkop, this would be the 61st known downed unit.
It's worth noting that before the war, Russia had just under 200 units. It's also possible that Russian losses are greater, as not every shootdown is recorded or captured in photos or videos.
It should also be mentioned that due to Russian logistical problems, realistically 50% or even fewer of the machines may be flight-ready. Cases have already emerged of cannibalising functioning machines for parts to keep the rest flight-capable.
Ka-52 Alligator — a Russian unique in the world
The Ka-52 Alligator helicopter is a modernisation of the Ka-50 helicopter, developed since 1991. It features a unique design with coaxial rotor blades and an unusual seating arrangement with pilots sitting side by side. In other attack helicopters, such as the AH-1Z Viper, pilots are positioned in a tandem layout, one in front of the other.
The Ka-52 Alligator is standardly equipped with a 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannon mounted on the side of the fuselage and six pylons on the stub wings. The two outermost pylons are designated for electronic warfare pods or 9K38 Igla anti-aircraft missiles, while the other four are used to carry heavier armament.
The helicopter includes, among others, laser-guided AT-12 Vikhr anti-tank missiles, Kh-25MP anti-radiation missiles, bombs, and pods for unguided rockets S-8. The latter are most frequently used, often fired at a steep angle, which reduces accuracy but increases their range.
This approach is a desperate method to extend the strike range, especially since many of these helicopters have been shot down using man-portable air defence systems. American FIM-92 Stinger, Soviet and Russian Strela, 9K38 Igla, and 9K333 Verba, as well as French Mistral and British Starstreak or Martlet, are used for this purpose.
The Russians boasted that these helicopters are equipped with L-370P2 Vitebsk self-defence systems, which, among other things, are supposed to jam enemy radars and blind incoming missile lasers. However, it seems that the system is rare, doesn't work properly, or Russian pilots don’t know how to use it.
