Gator on the Rise
Kamov'S Hokum Attack Helicopter Story 1977-2015
Seiten
2017
Helion & Company (Verlag)
978-1-911096-45-0 (ISBN)
Helion & Company (Verlag)
978-1-911096-45-0 (ISBN)
The Kamov Ka-50 (NATO codename Hokum) was developed as a new-generation heavily-armoured attack helicopter - originally conceived as a one-to-one replacement of the Mi-24 Hind. The programme was launched at the Moscow-based Kamov Experimental Design Bureau in the late 1970s. The concept - promoted by the then young and inventive head of Kamov, Sergey Mikheev - called for an unorthodox, well-protected, agile and small-size attack machine. The unorthodox attack rotorcraft made its maiden flight in June 1982. It pioneered the Kamov's trademark co-axial rotor scheme, combined with a highly automated flight/navigation/targeting suite and long-range anti-tank guided missiles. In the late 1980s - after a protracted head-to-head competition pitted against the Mil Mi-28 - it was judged as being definitely superior to its competitor and was subsequently ordered for serial production.
The first production-standard Ka-50 took to the air in May 1991 and the new type was formally commissioned into Russian Army Aviation Service in August 1995. As many as five prototypes and 13 production-standard helicopters were manufactured between 1982 and 2009. The single-seat and highly-automated Ka-50, however, appeared on the scene at just the wrong time, with its production launched during the dissolution of the mighty Soviet Union and the onset of sharp cuts in Russia's defence budget, which led to its termination in the late 2000s.
First design work on a two-seat derivative of the Ka-50 - designated as the Ka-52 Alligator - commenced as early as 1994 (initially as a company-funded venture). The first prototype - using the fuselage of a production-standard Ka-50 with a new nose section - was rolled out in November 1996 and made its maiden flight in the hover on 25 June 1997. In 2003, the Ka-52 successfully completed the first phase of the Russian military testing and evaluation effort - covering the flight performance. After three years, the Russian MoD finally allocated a budget for systems development testing and evaluation to be used within the framework of the second phase of the Ka-52's state testing effort. In addition, the Russian MoD allocated funds to setting up a production line at the AAC progress plant in Arsenyev - situated in Russia's Far Eastern territories. Even before completion of this effort, the initial production-standard Ka-52s were rolled out in the second half of 2010 and handed over to the Army Aviation Centre of Combat Training and Aircrew Conversion at Torzhok in December that year. Currently, the Ka-52 is the main new-generation type of the Russian Army Aviation Service, with approximately 200 examples ordered - plus another 36 for the Russia Naval Aviation.
The first production-standard Ka-50 took to the air in May 1991 and the new type was formally commissioned into Russian Army Aviation Service in August 1995. As many as five prototypes and 13 production-standard helicopters were manufactured between 1982 and 2009. The single-seat and highly-automated Ka-50, however, appeared on the scene at just the wrong time, with its production launched during the dissolution of the mighty Soviet Union and the onset of sharp cuts in Russia's defence budget, which led to its termination in the late 2000s.
First design work on a two-seat derivative of the Ka-50 - designated as the Ka-52 Alligator - commenced as early as 1994 (initially as a company-funded venture). The first prototype - using the fuselage of a production-standard Ka-50 with a new nose section - was rolled out in November 1996 and made its maiden flight in the hover on 25 June 1997. In 2003, the Ka-52 successfully completed the first phase of the Russian military testing and evaluation effort - covering the flight performance. After three years, the Russian MoD finally allocated a budget for systems development testing and evaluation to be used within the framework of the second phase of the Ka-52's state testing effort. In addition, the Russian MoD allocated funds to setting up a production line at the AAC progress plant in Arsenyev - situated in Russia's Far Eastern territories. Even before completion of this effort, the initial production-standard Ka-52s were rolled out in the second half of 2010 and handed over to the Army Aviation Centre of Combat Training and Aircrew Conversion at Torzhok in December that year. Currently, the Ka-52 is the main new-generation type of the Russian Army Aviation Service, with approximately 200 examples ordered - plus another 36 for the Russia Naval Aviation.
Alexander Mladenov is an aviation and defence author, journalist and photographer based in Sofia, Bulgaria. A graduate from the Sofia Technical University and the Bulgarian Higher Artillery and Air Defence School (Reserve Officer School ), he specialises in coverage of Soviet/Russian and East European military aviation both past and present. Since 1992, his articles and photographs have appeared in no fewer than 20 periodical publications around the world, including leading military aviation magazines such as AirForces Monthy, AIR International, Combat Aircraft Monthly, Aviation News and Defence Helicopter. He is also the author of a series of books on Soviet/Russian modern military aircraft and this is his first book for Helion & Company.
Erscheinungsdatum | 30.03.2017 |
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Zusatzinfo | 150 colour photos, 80 b/w photos, 30 b/w drawings |
Verlagsort | Solihull |
Sprache | englisch |
Maße | 210 x 297 mm |
Themenwelt | Natur / Technik ► Fahrzeuge / Flugzeuge / Schiffe ► Luftfahrt / Raumfahrt |
Natur / Technik ► Fahrzeuge / Flugzeuge / Schiffe ► Militärfahrzeuge / -flugzeuge / -schiffe | |
Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Militärgeschichte | |
Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung | |
ISBN-10 | 1-911096-45-1 / 1911096451 |
ISBN-13 | 978-1-911096-45-0 / 9781911096450 |
Zustand | Neuware |
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Buch | Hardcover (2024)
Motorbuch Verlag
CHF 55,90