Profile
- Type
- Attack and reconnaissance helicopter
- Conflict side
- Russia
- Origin
- Russia
- Service note
- Entered serial production in 2008; used by Russian forces during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Aircraft & UAVs
Ka-52
The Ka-52 is a Russian two-seat attack and reconnaissance helicopter derived from the Ka-50 and built around a coaxial rotor layout, side-by-side crew cockpit, 30 mm cannon, and guided-missile hardpoints. In the Russia-Ukraine War it became one of Russia's most visible rotary-wing strike platforms, especially in southern Ukraine where Ka-52 and Ka-52M crews used longer-range anti-tank missiles against Ukrainian ground forces.
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Service History
- In service
- Russian service from the early 2010s; combat use documented in Ukraine from 2022.
- Used by
- Russian Aerospace Forces, Russian Naval Aviation, Egyptian Air Force
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designer
- Kamov Design Bureau
- Designed
- 1990s; first flight in June 1997
- Built in
- Russia
- Produced
- Serial production from 2008
- Variants
- Ka-52 Alligator, Ka-52M, Ka-52K Katran
Specifications
- Crew
- 2
- Engines
- Two Klimov turboshaft engines
- Maximum speed
- About 300 km/h
- Range
- About 500 km
- Service ceiling
- About 5,500 m maximum ceiling
- Armament
- 30 mm 2A42 cannon, six weapon stations for guided missiles, rockets, bombs, gun pods, or fuel tanks
- Maximum takeoff weight
- About 10,800 kg
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Russia
Russian forces have used Ka-52 and Ka-52M attack helicopters in southern Ukraine, including LMUR-equipped aircraft that UK defence intelligence assessed were firing from roughly 15 km beyond many Ukrainian short-range air-defense systems.
Related Weapon Systems
Mi-24/Mi-35Attack helicopter and armed assault transportThe Mi-24/Mi-35 Hind family combines an armored attack helicopter with limited troop-carrying capacity, giving operators a platform for close air support, anti-armor fires, and armed escort. In the Russia-Ukraine War, Ukraine has used legacy and donated Mi-24V/Mi-35 airframes for low-level rocket attacks and adapted some Hinds to carry Western unguided rockets.
Mi-28Attack helicopterThe Mi-28 Havoc is a Russian two-seat attack helicopter developed for anti-armor, close air support, and armed reconnaissance missions. Modern Mi-28N/NM-family aircraft combine armored tandem cockpits, a 30 mm chin cannon, guided missiles, rockets, and day/night sensors; Russian forces have used the type in the Russia-Ukraine War, where helicopters have faced dense ground-based air-defense and drone threats.
A1-CM FuriaFixed-wing tactical reconnaissance UAVThe A1-CM Furia is a Ukrainian electric fixed-wing tactical UAV built by Athlon Avia for reconnaissance and artillery fire correction. Developed after Ukraine's 2014 need for organic battlefield ISR, it gives Ukrainian units a portable sensor platform for locating targets, transmitting video, and adjusting indirect fire under wartime electronic-warfare pressure.
Bayraktar TB2Medium-altitude long-endurance UAVA Turkish unmanned aircraft used for reconnaissance and strike missions. It became especially prominent in the early phase of the full-scale invasion.
Black HornetNano reconnaissance UAVThe Black Hornet is a pocket-sized military nano-UAV used by dismounted troops for short-range reconnaissance, target identification, and immediate situational awareness. In Ukraine, donated Black Hornet 3 systems give small units a low-signature day and thermal sensor that can look over obstacles, into urban terrain, and around trench lines without exposing an operator..jpg?width=480)
DJI Matrice 300 RTKCommercial quadcopter UAVThe DJI Matrice 300 RTK is a Chinese commercial enterprise quadcopter built around long-endurance inspection, mapping, and public-safety payloads. In the Russia-Ukraine War it appears as an off-the-shelf UAV in Ukrainian service, where donor-funded sets have been supplied for reconnaissance, observation, and front-line support tasks rather than as a purpose-built military aircraft.Sources
Russian Alligator Creates a Sensation at Le BourgetPublisher: Vertical Magazine / Russian Helicopters | Note: Russian Helicopters press release covering Ka-52 manufacturer background, role, avionics, engines, armament, payload, and service context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Russian Helicopters Ka-52Publisher: Helis.com | Note: Reference entry used for development, production, operator, and specification values including crew, dimensions, weight, speed, range, and ceiling. | Accessed: 2026-06-20New Russian Ka-52 Attack Helicopters Inflicting Heavy Cost on Ukraine, Defence Intelligence ReportsPublisher: Forces News | Note: Directly supports Russia-Ukraine War use context for Ka-52 and Ka-52M helicopters in southern Ukraine, including reported LMUR missile employment. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:Ka-52 Attack Helicopter (1).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing source; Commons lists the photograph as CC BY-SA 4.0 with VRT permission confirmation. | Accessed: 2026-06-20