Russian military misfires again: Ka‑29 downed by own defense system

The Defense Romania portal, citing Russian sources, reports that a Ka-29 helicopter from the Russian Federation crashed near the city of Anapa in Krasnodar Krai, in the Black Sea region. The Russian air defense system reportedly shot down the aircraft.

For many months, the Russians have been grappling with issues related to the quality of their equipment and coordinating activities linked to friend-or-foe identification. Numerous photos on social media depict the aftermath of malfunctions of Russian munitions that mistakenly fell on Russian Federation territory.

Accidental strikes on their soil are not the only problems the aggressor's army is facing. In the past, the Russians have destroyed their equipment due to friendly fire. At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the aggressor country lost an S-300 air defense system to such an incident. Friendly fire also led to the destruction of a Zala Kub drone in 2024.

This time, the loss for Putin’s army involved a Ka-29 helicopter shot down in the Black Sea region. According to reports cited by the Romanian portal Defense Romania, the aircraft, which belonged to the Black Sea Fleet, was downed by the Pantsir-S1 system.

"The system struck the helicopter due to a malfunction in the friend-or-foe identification system," read the reports. The aircraft was hit by allied weaponry, most likely during an attack by Ukrainians on Russian positions.

The Kamov Ka-29, the helicopter eliminated by the Russians, dates back to the 1970s. Its first flight was in 1976, essentially a development of its predecessor, the Ka-27. The primary difference lies in the fuselage, which was extended forward to accommodate a 3-person crew sitting side by side. Additionally, the Ka-29 can carry 15 fully equipped soldiers on board.

For the helicopter shot down in the Black Sea region, the manufacturer opted to forego the tail rotor due to coaxial rotors at the top, meaning two rotors above the aircraft instead of one at the rear.

The helicopter is powered by two Klimov TV3-117V engines, each generating nearly 2,200 horsepower, allowing the Ka-29 to reach up to 155 mph. The maximum range of a fully fueled helicopter of this type is slightly over 280 miles. It is equipped with eight 9M114 anti-tank guided missiles with a range of up to 3 miles. The Ka-29's fuselage can also carry pods with 3.1-inch rockets and bombs.