Russian Ka‑52 Alligator losses soar amid helicopter woes
The Russians have lost another Ka-52 Alligator helicopter. These aircraft are among Russia's newest, and their numbers have decreased rapidly. Let's take a look at the performance of the Ka-52 Alligator helicopters.
3:34 PM EST, November 8, 2024
The Russian channel on Telegram, Fighterbomber, reported the loss of a Ka-52 Alligator helicopter. Of the two pilots onboard, one survived the shootdown. According to the list maintained by the OSINT group oryxspioenkop, this would be the 61st known downed unit.
It's worth noting that before the war, Russia had just under 200 of these helicopters. It's also possible that Russian losses are greater since not every shootdown is recorded or captured in photos or videos.
It should also be mentioned that due to Russian logistical problems, realistically, 50% or fewer of the helicopters may be flight-ready. There have already been instances of cannibalizing functioning machines for parts to keep the rest operational.
Ka-52 Alligator — a unique Russian helicopter
The Ka-52 Alligator helicopter is a modernization of the Ka-50 helicopter, developed since 1991. It features a unique design with coaxial rotor blades and an unusual seating arrangement where pilots sit side by side. In contrast, other attack helicopters like the AH-1Z Viper have pilots positioned in a tandem layout, one behind the other.
The Ka-52 Alligator is typically equipped with a 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannon mounted on the side of the fuselage and six pylons on the stub wings. The two outermost pylons are designated for electronic warfare pods or 9K38 Igla anti-aircraft missiles, while the other four carry heavier armament.
The helicopter includes laser-guided AT-12 Vikhr anti-tank missiles, Kh-25MP anti-radiation missiles, bombs, and pods for unguided rockets such as the S-8. The latter are most frequently used, often fired at a steep angle, which reduces accuracy but increases range.
This approach is a desperate measure to extend the strike range, especially since many of these helicopters have been shot down using man-portable air defense systems. Systems like the American FIM-92 Stinger, Soviet and Russian Strela, 9K38 Igla, and 9K333 Verba, as well as the French Mistral and British Starstreak or Martlet, are used for this purpose.
The Russians have claimed that these helicopters are equipped with L-370P2 Vitebsk self-defense systems, which are supposed to jam enemy radars and blind incoming missile lasers. However, it appears that the system is either rare, doesn't work properly, or Russian pilots don’t know how to use it effectively.
