Armed Ka‑29 helicopter and Sergei Kotov ship sunk near Kerch Strait

The presence of the Ka-29 helicopter on board the sunken ship during the night of March 4th to 5th was confirmed by Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine's intelligence, as cited by the Unian agency. "It was on combat duty, that is, it was armed with ammunition and missiles," Yusov explained.

It's noteworthy that the ship, Sergei Kotov, met its fate near the Kerch Strait, as detailed in a report on Ukrainian marine drones sinking Russia's newest naval vessel. This was a result of a successful attack by Magura V5 water drones. The Sergei Kotov was the latest addition to the fleet of 22160 Vasily Bykov project ships.

The history of the Kamov Ka-29 dates back to the 1970s, with its first flight in 1976. Manufactured by the Kumertau Aviation Manufacturing Company, this combat transport helicopter is a modified variant of the Ka-27, primarily different in its extended fuselage.

This redesigned fuselage allows the Ka-29 to accommodate a three-person crew seated side by side, including a gunner, and can transport up to 15 soldiers with their gear. In its medical evacuation configuration, it can carry four stretchers and seven additional passengers, including medical staff. The maximum external cargo weight is approximately 8,818 lbs.

According to the Military Wiki, the Ka-29 is fitted with a photoelectric sensor and an anti-tank missile controller to enhance flight safety. A unique characteristic of this Kamov model is the absence of a tail rotor, a common feature of helicopters in this family, thanks to the coaxial rotors. The Ka-29 is powered by two Klimov TV3-117V engines, each producing nearly 2,950 hp, allowing the helicopter to reach speeds up to 155 mph and cover a distance of about 286 miles on a single fuel tank.

Externally, the Ka-29 can be armed with up to eight guided anti-tank missiles 9M114, with a range of up to about 3 miles. Furthermore, it is equipped to carry pods containing 57 mm or 80 mm caliber rockets and bombs.