Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Development [ ] The Ka-50 is the production version of the prototype. Production of the attack helicopter was ordered by the Soviet Council of Ministers on 14 December 1987. Development of the helicopter was first reported in the West in 1984. The first photograph appeared in 1989. During operational testing from 1985 to 1986, the workload on the pilot was found to be similar to that of a fighter-bomber pilot, such that the pilot could perform both flying and navigation duties. Like other Kamov helicopters, it features Kamov's characteristic co-axial rotor system, which removes the need for the entire assembly and improves the aircraft's aerobatic qualities—it can perform loops, rolls and 'the funnel' (), where the aircraft maintains a line-of-sight to the target while flying circles of varying altitude, elevation and airspeed around it. [ ] The omission of the tail rotor is a qualitative advantage, because the torque-countering tail rotor can use up to 30% of engine power.

The Ka-50's entire transmission presents a comparatively small target to ground fire. Ka-52 '061', Zhukovski, 2009 In the early 1980s, while comparative tests of the V-80 (Ka-50 prototype) and the Mi-28 were being conducted, the Kamov design team came up with a proposal to develop a dedicated helicopter to conduct battlefield reconnaissance, provide target designation, support and co-ordinate group attack helicopter operations. However, the economic hardships that hit the nation in the late 1980s hampered this new development program. This prompted Kamov's Designer General to choose a modified version of Ka-50 on which to install the reconnaissance and target designation system. The modified 'Black Shark' required a second crew member to operate the optronics/radar reconnaissance suite. Kamov decided to use side-by-side seating arrangement, due to the verified improvements in co-operation between the crew members. This twin-seat version was designated Ka-52.

Serial Ka-52 at Torzhok Air Base In comparison to the original Ka-50, it has a 'softer' nose profile and a radar system with two antennas—mast-mounted for aerial targets and nose-mounted for ground targets. Day-and-night TV/thermal sighting system in two spherical turrets (one over the cockpit and the second under the nose) are also fitted. The Ka-52 has the side-mounted cannon of the original Ka-50. It features six wing-mounted hardpoints compared to four on the Ka-50.

Windows 7 serial number. To keep the weight and performance on par with that of the Ka-50, some sacrifices were made to the design; the amount of armour and the capacity of the cannon magazine/feed were reduced. Also some flight parameters deteriorated; rate of climb is 8 m/s (vs. 10 m/s), maximum positive load factor is 3.0 g. Most of the problems were solved by installing the new engine. The Ka-52 is approved for day, night and adverse weather conditions. Manufacturing of the first Ka-52 airframe began in mid-1996. Series production was started in autumn 2008.