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World
Air Force News - Russia |
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Crash
of a Russian attack helicopter Kamov KA-52 Alligator Hokum B during a
training flight.
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Two pilots died
after a Kamov Ka-52 Alligator (Hokum B) attack helicopter crashed during
a training flight near Torzhok in Russia’s Tver Region on Tuesday,
the Defense Ministry said. “A rescue group found the helicopter
some 10 kilometers west of Torzhok air field at 08.45 am Moscow Time”
he said. One pilot died immediately in the crash, and the second died
in hospital shortly after.
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Russian Kamov KA-52 Alligator Hokum B attack helicopter at MAKS
Moscow Air Show
(Credit photo Vitaly Kuzmin)
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There was no ammunition on board the helicopter, which
was conducting a training flight, Konashenkov added.
The Defense Ministry has said it will not suspend Ka-52 flights as a
result of the incident. An investigation group has been set up to find
the causes of the crash. The aircraft’s flight data recorders
will soon be handed over to specialists to establish the reasons behind
the accident, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said.
This is the first loss of a Ka-52 multirole attack helicopter, but there
have been previous accidents involving the single-seat Ka-50, from which
the Ka-52 is derived.
A Ka-50 crashed in June 1998 during an air display, killing the base
commander at Torzhok. An official accident report said the helicopter's
co-axial rotor blades hit each other during hard maneuvering.
The Ka-50 and Ka-52 are unique among helicopters in having ejection
seats. The seats operate after explosives in the rotor head blow off
the rotor blades to give the crew a safe exit.
The Ka-52 is armed with a 30-mm cannon, Vikhr (Whirlwind) laser-guided
missiles, rockets and bombs. The helicopter is also equipped with two
radars, one for ground and one for aerial targets and a Samshite day-
night thermal imaging system.
Development of the Ka-52 started in 1994 in Russia, but serial production
only began in 2008.
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