Article Posted on : - Jan 03, 2011

The Ka-52 is a twin-seat derivative of the Ka-50 Hokum-A attack helicopter, and is designed primarily for reconnaissance and target designation purposes.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia will start procuring Ka-52 Alligator helicopters for the national Air Force in 2011, according to the Defence Ministry.

Defence Ministry official spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik on Sunday said, the Russian Air Force would also receive up to 100 Sukhoi fighter jets by 2015 and twenty-five new Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers in the next few years.

According to a Ria Novosti report, the development of the Ka-52 started in 1994 in Russia, but its serial production began only in 2008.

The Ka-52 is a modification of the basic Ka-50 Hokum model. It is armed with 30-mm cannon, Vikhr (Whirlwind) laser guided missiles, rockets, including S-24s, as well as bombs.

The helicopter is also equipped with two radars, one for ground and one for aerial targets and a Samshite nighttime-daytime thermal sighting system.