A coaxial-rotor single-seat attack helicopter developed for anti-armor and battlefield attack roles.
Development
Kamov Ka-50 was developed by Kamov Design Bureau in Soviet Union as a attack aircraft. The family first flew in 1982. Its recorded airframe configuration is rotorcraft, with the family classified in the archive as core combat-aircraft scope.
Operational History
Operationally, Kamov Ka-50 is represented primarily in the attack aircraft role. The sourced variant records include service with Soviet Air Forces, Russian Aerospace Forces, and Russian Naval Aviation. The current structured record does not attach a specific conflict authority to this family; operational context remains limited to sourced service and role data. Role tags attached to the family include battlefield interdiction.
Variants and Lineage
Major variants represented in the structured record include V-80 / Ka-50, Ka-52 prototype, Ka-52 serial configuration, Ka-52K Katran prototype, and Ka-52M modernization.
Variants
| Designation | Type | Role | Recorded operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ka-52 prototype | Prototype | Attack | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Ka-52 serial configuration | Production | Attack | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Ka-52K Katran prototype | Prototype | Attack | Russian Naval Aviation |
| Ka-52M modernization | Upgrade | Attack | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| V-80 / Ka-50 | Production | Attack | Soviet Air Forces |
Representative specifications
Configuration-specific profiles are shown separately so values from different variants are not blended into one false “standard” aircraft.
V-80 / Ka-50 — C016 baseline technical profile
- Crew
- 1
Powerplant: 2 × Klimov TV3-117/VK-2500 turboshafts
Armament: 30 mm cannon with anti-tank missiles, rockets, and bombs.
Sources and further reading
Structured references supporting this aircraft family, variants, specifications, and narrative sections.
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1997-98 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2008-09 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2015-16 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2023-24 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995 — Osprey Aerospace · Tier 3