Erdogan Ka-50-2 Born Fighter

Russia and Israel team for the Turkish attack helicopter programmeRussia and Israel team for the Turkish attack helicopter programme

From the Ordnance Journal of Military DJ focusses on the ERDOGAN, the TURKISH Attack Helicopter Programme

For Turkey there is a large and very competitive attack helicopter contract is to be fulfilled. Competition is expected to be fierce for this procurement programme, estimated at about $2 billion. In the running so far is the (Apache Boeing), AH-1W Super Cobra (Bell), A-129 (Augusta), and Tigre (Eurocopter). The only break from the all-West entrants is the Ka-50-2 from a joint effort by Kamov of Russia and Israel Aircraft Industries of Israel.

The Ka-50-2 Erdogan uses the basic airframe of the Ka-52 Alligator, which in turn followed the introduction of the Ka-50 attack helicopter. The Ka-50 was a purpose built ground support helicopter designed to destroy armoured vehicles from long range.

The Ka-52 followed soon on the heels of the Ka-50. With a wide fuselage cross-section, the Ka-52 featured a two-pilot arrangement sitting side-by-side. It seems that one of the main purposes of the Ka-52 was to act as group or section leaders for larger battlegroups of attack helicopters. It is from the Ka-52 that the original concept for the Ka-50-2 was born.

Russia has had little success penetrating the Turkish market in the past. One reason would be the strong U.S. and western influence in the country and secondly would be the strong military support that Russia has shown for Greece and Cyprus. These two factors played heavily in the Russian decision to partner with a country and company that have a close relationship with the Turkish military. Israel was a logical choice as it has all of the business connections and it was not a competitor in the attack helicopter programme.

Of importance is that the original Ka 50-2 configuration was fundamentally the same as the Ka-52, meaning the crew sat side-by-side. However, a recent Turkish change called for the crew to be placed one behind the other, similar to most other attack helicopter designs. Most of the performance information discussed here pertains to the original Ka-50-2 design, as it is unclear how much will change if a new proposal is made.

The airframe is designed as a non-pressurized monoblock structure divided into several compartments. The fuselage is constructed primarily of aluminum alloys and polymer composites. The three-point, retractable landing gear have a main gear track of 2,600mm. A point that Kamov makers is that the landing gear, when retracted, serves to protect a number of key electric junction boxes.

Externally, the Ka-50 is recognizable with its two counter-rotating blades. The torque to each rotor negate each other and eliminate the need for a tail rotor. Without the tail rotor the complex array of driveline and transmission to the tail is eliminated and the tail area is less susceptible to battle damage. The Ka-50 is also free to perform flat turns without any speed limitations.

The system is devised of two three-blade coaxial rotors and blade control units. The upper rotor rotates clockwise and the lower counterclockwise. The blade spars are designed as hollow beams constructed with glass-carbon plastic partitions. Skin and rib facings are made of plastics with polymer honeycomb filler. The blades swept ends are fixed to the spar at a thirty degree angle.

To widen the operating envelope, the Ka-50-2 is equipped with an anti-icing system that protects the rotor blades, engine air intakes, dust filters, windscreen, and various flight sensors. There is also a deicing liquid sprinkler for the windshield.

The Ka-50-2 avionics are based on a centralized architecture which integrates the aircraft instrumentation with the flight controls. Standard network protocols direct and link the systems and all conform to MIL-STD (x 2 1553B Mux Bus for the avionics and 1760B for the armament).

The new glass cockpit is designed to ensure the crew has full tactical awareness with maximum system redundancy. The Ka-50-2 is capable of performing all of its previous attack missions and has been optimized for the reconnaissance and observation role. For this, a Helicopter Multi-mission Optronic Stabilized Payload (HMSOP) has been incorporated. The nose-mounted sensor ball provides the crew with tactical target acquisition which includes detection, range finding, and tracking in day/night and adverse weather conditions. The unit itself can be slaved to the pilot/gunner's Integrated Helmet System (IHS) if required. The output is also displayed on the Multi-Function Colour Displays (MFCD) in the cockpit with the Mission and Display Processor (MDP) controlling the process. The Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) operates in the 8-12mm wavelength with a high resolution camera with continuous zoom. It also has a laser beam pointer, target range measuring system, and an autotrack capability.

The MDP, based on the R-308I-family, processes all of the information given to the MFCD as a result of commands from the pilot based on inputs to the Hands On Collective and Stick (HOCAS). This is a real aid to the crew, as the pilot does not have to remove his hands from the HOCAS. The same basic concept is true for the gunner; all of his commands are generated via hand in-puts to his HOCAS.

The IHS is an advanced helmet-mounted display and sighting system which projects flight and weapon data, as well as the FLIR image onto the operator's visor.

The weapon load for the Ka-50-2 can vary based on the mission. On its outside winglet pods it can carry two (per side) Stinger air-to-air missiles. On station two it can carry twelve (six per side) of the Vikhr air-to-surface anti-tank missiles, additional Stinger missile, or fuel drop tanks. On the most inboard station fuel drop tanks or 80mm rocket pods. The middle and inboard stations could also be used for a number of other bomb or rocket combinations, including the X-25ML laser-guided missiles.

The Vikhr guided missiles are mounted on the UPP-800 movable mounts, twelve to a station. The mount can be deflected down twelve degrees to facilitate air attacks at speed. The supersonic missiles can kill targets out to eight kilometres and will reportedly penetrate armour 900mm thick, including reactive armour types. Not being a fire-and-forget design, the Vikhr's target must be illuminated for the duration of flight. Kamov does not feel that this is real problem because of the normally short flight times. Target acquisition is aided by a laser beam generated by the electro-optical Shkval complex located under the helicopter's nose. The Vikhr can also be used to engage air targets by moving the selector switch from 'ground' to 'aerial'.

The 80mm unguided rockets are carried in groups of twenty in pods. The S-8 rockets can carry a variety of warhead options, including armour piercing and high-explosive, among others. There is also an option to carry nineteen 2.75 inch rockets in a pod.

The gun system originally planned for the Ka-50-2 is powered by two TV3-117 VMA turboshaft engines, each creating 2,200 hp at takeoff. There is a free-wheeling clutch which allows each engine to be started independently and also allows one engine to be shut down if necessary.

The engine compartment is separated from the auxiliary powerplant housing by a firewall. The gas-turbine AI-9V engine provides the auxiliary power to feed compressed air to the turbo drive for starting the main engines. Fuel is located in two internal fuel tanks, each feeding one engine (with one also feeding the auxiliary engine). The tanks themselves are constructed from a kerosene resistant rubber-fibre material. The tanks' bottom and two-thirds of the side walls are protected by layers of natural rubber. For explosion protection, the tanks also have an elastic polyurethane foam which acts as a porous filler.

Both engines are fitted with centrifugal dust filters and screen-type exhaust devices which mix the hot exhaust with the outside air to suppress the heat signature.

The Ka-50-2 will carry three VHF/UHF radio transceivers, an HF radio transceiver, an IFF transponder/interrogator, a Data Link system, two Audio Control Panels, and an Audio Interface System.

The standard Ka-50 is in series production, although at relatively low rates and it has yet to gain any export success. Competition for the Turkish programme is expected to be fierce. Russia's prospects would best be considered outside. However, their willingness to join with a partner familiar with the market and their apparent ability to change the fundamental layout of their previous design plan shows a flexibility which could keep them in the running.