Russian Navy’s Kamov Ka-52 Helicopters To Be Equipped With New AESA Radar

Russian Naval Variant of Kamov Ka-52 Alligator attack/reconnaissance helicopter will be equipped with compact active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar from KRET.

The AESA radar will be able to operate in the millimetre wavelength for effective ground target acquisition as well as centimetric spectrum to enable large naval targets to be detected at a range of 180 km, IHS Janes reported quoting a company spokersperson as saying Tuesday.

The radar is also capable of detecting low-altitude aerial targets such as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), providing data to cue on-board electro-optical devices and corresponding weapons to these targets.

Flight safety is enhanced with ground moving target indication and tracking modes, which assists the crew in coping with low visibility conditions such as fog, dust and night-time operations. The radar also detects ground obstacles including transmission towers and power lines, the news weekly reported.

The Ka-52K helicopter - developed to sink amphibious landing ships as well as the transports of enemy strike groups and convoys with its ability to employ anti-ship cruise missiles such as the high-speed Kh-31AD - was originally slated for deployment aboard the two French-built Mistral-class amphibious command ships originally destined for the Russian Navy.

However, delivery of the ships to Russia had subsequently been cancelled by France due to the former's annexation of Crimea.

There are now plans to add the helicopters already constructed to the air wing of the Project 11435 Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier.