Kamov Ka-50

The Kamov Ka-50 "Black Shark" (Russian: Чёрная акула; Chornaya Akula, NATO reporting name: Hokum-A) is a single-seat Russian attack helicopter with the distinctive coaxial rotor system of the Kamov design bureau. It was designed in the 1980s and adopted for service in the Russian army in 1995. It is manufactured by the Progress company in Arsenyev. It is being used as a heavily armed scout helicopter.

During the late 1990s, Kamov and Israel Aerospace Industries developed a tandem-seat cockpit version, the Kamov Ka-50-2 "Erdogan", to compete in Turkey's attack helicopter competition. Kamov also designed another two-seat variant, the Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" (Russian: Аллигатор, NATO reporting name: Hokum-B).

Variants

 * Kamov V-80: Prototype version for Ka-50.
 * Kamov Ka-50: Single-seat version.
 * Kamov Ka-50N: Ka-50 with night attack capability.
 * Kamov Ka-50Sh: Ka-50 with improved night attack capability.
 * Kamov Ka-50-2 "Erdogan": Version with a two-seat tandem cockpit.
 * Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator": Highly upgraded version with a two-seat side-by-side cockpit for the Russian Air Force.
 * Kamov Ka-52K "Katran": Naval version with folding blade and reinforced landing gear, wing shortened for basing on ships and the possibility of using Kh-35 anti-ship missile.

Users

 * People's Republic of China
 * People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force x 36
 * Egypt
 * Egyptian Air Force x 46
 * Russia
 * Russian Air Force x 156
 * Russian Naval Aviation x 28
 * Turkey
 * Turkish Navy x 32

Related Development

 * Kamov Ka-25
 * Kamov Ka-27

Comparable Aircraft

 * Agusta A129 Mangusta
 * TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK
 * Bell AH-1Z Viper
 * Boeing AH-64 Apache
 * Westland WAH-64 Apache
 * Changhe Z-10
 * Denel Rooivalk
 * Eurocopter Tiger
 * HAL Light Combat Helicopter
 * Mil Mi-28
 * TAI T929 ATAK 2