Not sure if anyone here buys this magazine but they've got a nice centre page article about the current version of the ka52 and it's sure looks bad ass!, it's goes into some detail about the updates to the airframe but there is a nice pic of a ka50sh. I wish we could get the sh model with its improved night attack capability, the article also goes into detail about the weapons used with the main focus on the ataka atgm, iirc which is a radio guided missile. There's a part in it that says about the way rockets are so accurate due to the airframe being so stable that they are no long considered an area weapon but more of a single point weapon, clearly they have never employed this weapon in this sim!

Improved night attack capability would be cool. Does the sh model still use the vikrs? As for the rockets. I use them as a single point weapon, but they always seem to hit a point other than where I'm aiming. For infantry(an area target) they work well. For everything else I almost have to ram it before I can hit it. Hopefully with more stick time my aim will improve.

Yeah I think they can still use vikhrs but I'm not sure if they use them at night, yeah I'm getting better with rockets but I still have to use a burst and go in slow.

I saw the article when browsing the mag in the shop. Some great pics in there.

One striking pick was the 52 on the ship with a monstorous pod on its wing. I wonder what its for?

I saw the article when browsing the mag in the shop. Some great pics in there.

One striking pick was the 52 on the ship with a monstorous pod on its wing. I wonder what its for?

Yeah I was wondered what the hell that pod was as well, perhaps its a travel pod but its so massive that it needs bracing on the hardpoint, wonder what those pods are on the wing tips too?.

The Ka-50Sh is an experimental aircraft used for testing and demonstration by Kamov. The DCS Ka-50 is the aircraft in-use by the military ... in other words, you can probably forget about the Sh.



All helicopters are stable rocket platforms. The only time rockets are 'point weapons' is when you're using those huge 130mm bunker busting rockets and shooting them into the broad side of a barn up close.

Heh? All helicopters are inherently unstable. Making a helicopter stable enough to be a usable weapons platform is quite the challenge. Maybe you mean all ground attack helicopters are stable rocket platforms?

Several utility helicopters have had weapons added to them - UH-1, UH-60, Mi-8, H-6, and the OH-58 is an adapted civilian design.

The problem with aiming rockets has almost never been the helicopter AFAIK, but rather the pilot and technique - as well as not expecting the rockets to do more than they were designed for ... ie. pinpoint accuracy attacks. That's why the US Army has invested in the laser guided rocket.

I don't know about you, but with my joystick the Ka-50 is definitely unstable... I don't actually mind the instability that is good for turning, it is just the constant oscillations of a 3-5 degrees around the gunsight that make it impossible to hit anything. There really is no point in carry rockets (except for long ranged demolition of buildings). *sigh*

(click) trim (click) (click) all (click) the (click) time (click)

But I do find the Ka-50 is like a bad marriage - needs constant corrections and is fundamentally unstable without lots and lots of patience and practice..

Serial production Ka-52 with missile warning and jamming systems, radar in the nose, 6 hardpoints including Igla AA missiles, and wearing the new Russian AF colors (well, color).

Flight testing equipment.

Yeah, have read that article to and I was surprised to read that statement: "....but it turned out that the RAA will have more Ka-52 then Mi-28 Night Hunter...". I thought that the Mi-28N is the "new" attack helicopter for RAA and the Ka-50/Ka-52 are only for special operations/forces...

Hi Evil, some great pics and info there.

I am not sure, but flight testing equipment i know about are extended probes and sensors. But the pod in the picture in airforces monthly is a closed and very large rectangular pod. Not saying its not flight testing equipment, but its a strange and very large shaped pod if it is.

I was wondering if its more of a submerine or aquatic radar sensor for anti sub use as it was loaded on a 52 on the back of a ship?

If you google Ka-50/52 images, you'll find hundreds of photos with the same pod. I'm not sure exactly what is contains, but I would guess more recording equipment than measuring sensors. The case itself may just be a universal container. Maybe they even use it as a travel pod.




I doubt it, but there is a naval Ka-52K model in development (haven't read the article, but suspect it talked about it). Besides the airframe modifications (folding wings and rotors), this may have some additional sensors and armament.

Nice pics again.

I guess it was the universal vodka container and a standard twice daily delivery to the ship

Does anybody else think that the ka52 looks a mean s.o.b? I wish we could have one of those to fly, id much rather pilot this than an apache ( if d.c.s actually make one )

You can get EECH from GOG.com and fly the Ka-52 there. Granted it's an earlier depiction (with mast-mounted sensor vs undernose) and lots of other differences, but it's not that far off.



The Jedi Master

Great pics and commentary here; wish the AirForces monthly article on Ka-52 was available digitally...or did I miss that?
Derek

A bit more Ka-52 "p0rn"

Its kinda amazing how different the cockpit for the two seat is compared to the single, looks south more like what us westerners are used to

That's because this is the "new" 52 which has a more recent cockpit.
Sort of like comparing the cockpit of an F-15A to an F-15E.


The Jedi Master

Thanks EB! Great pics!

In the 2nd and 3rd pic, there is a small center stick...
what is his purpose?

EDIT: thx for the nice pics

There are two side sticks for the operator, one for the left hand (the one you noticed) and one for the right (by the right side canopy). They are used to operate sensors and weapons. The right stick also twists to get it out of the way (not sure about the left):



There is a very detailed Ka-52 walkaround, including tons of cockpit pics here:
http://twower.livejournal.com/572607.html

Alligator

http://www.photosight.ru/photos/4545821/

Thanks for the article linking.



Really?

One of the things I like about Ka-50 is how badass it looks - especially compared to Mi-28, which looks like Goofy.

Think they lost that in Ka-52, looks like a sad bird to me.