Kamov Ka-27

Ka-27
A Russian Navy Ka-27PS
Role	Anti-submarine helicopter
National origin	Soviet Union/Russia
Manufacturer	Kamov
First flight	24 December 1973
Introduction	1982
Primary users	Soviet Navy Russian Navy Ukrainian Navy Indian Navy
Produced	since 1981
Number built	267
Developed from	Kamov Ka-25
Variants	Kamov Ka-31

The Kamov Ka-27 (NATO reporting name 'Helix') is a military helicopter developed for the Soviet Navy, and currently in service in various countries including Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea (South Korea), and India. Variants include the Ka-29 assault transport, the Ka-28 downgraded export version, and the Ka-32 for civilian use.

Design and development

The helicopter was developed for ferrying and anti-submarine warfare. Design work began in 1969 and the first prototype flew in 1973. It was intended to replace the decade-old Kamov Ka-25, and is similar in appearance to its predecessor due to the requirements of fitting in the same hangar space. Like other Kamov military helicopters it has a co-axial rotor, removing the need for a tail rotor.

Operational history

A Russian Navy Ka-27 helicopter from the Russian Udaloy class destroyer RS Severomorsk (DDG 619) conducted interoperability deck landing training on board USS Mount Whitney on 22 July 2010.

The Ka-32A11BC multipurpose helicopters have been successfully operated in Portugal for more than five years. In 2006, KAMOV JSC won the tender for the supply of the Ka-32A11BC firefighting helicopters, which were to replace the Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma which have very high operating costs.

The Ka-32A11BC features high power-to weight ratio and ease of handling, owing to a coaxial-rotor design. The absence of tail rotor and the tail boom restricted to the main rotors' diameter facilitate maneuvering near obstacles and make it possible to assure exceptional accuracy hovering in heavy smoke and dust conditions. The Ka-32A11BC may be equipped with the suspended fire-fighting system Bambi Bucket of capacity up to 5 tons. The service life has been extended up to 32 000 flight hours.

Since 1990s, China made purchase of Ka-28 export version and Ka-31 radar warning helicopters for PLA navy fleet. Ka-31 purchase was first revealed in 2010. It is believed that Chinese Ka-28s have been equipped with more enhanced avionics comparing Ka-28 exported to other countries.

In 2013, Russia tested the new Kamov Ka-27M with an AESA radar. The basis of the modernization of the Ka-27M is installed on the helicopter airborne radar with an active phased array antenna FH-A. This radar is part of the command and tactical radar system that combines several other systems: acoustic, magnetometric, signals intelligence and radar. All the information on them is displayed on the display instrumentation.

Variants

A Ka-27 assigned to the Russian destroyer Admiral Vinogradov (DDG 572) flies near the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) while conducting operations in the Gulf of Aden.

Ka-25-2

First prototype.

Ka-27K

Anti-submarine warfare prototype.

Ka-27PL

(Helix-A) Anti-submarine warfare helicopter.

Ka-27PS

(Helix-D) Search and rescue helicopter, ASW equipment removed and winch fitted.

Ka-27PV

Armed version of the Ka-27PS.

Ka-28

(Helix-A) Export version of the Ka-27Pl.

Rescue Ka-28 over Niš, Serbia in September 2010

Ka-29TB

(Helix-B) Assault transport helicopter, with accommodation for two pilots and 16 troops.

Ka-252RLD

A radar picket variant of the Ka-31 early warning helicopter first displayed in 2008. RLD designation: radiolokatsyonnoga dozora. Two units delivered to Russian MoD by 2010.

Kamov Ka-32S of Omega Helicopters at Moscow Bykovo airfield in 2004

Ka-32A

Civil transport helicopter. Initial production version.

Ka-32A1

Fire fighting helicopter, equipped with a helicopter bucket.

Ka-32A2

Police version, equipped with two searchlights and a loudspeaker.

Ka-32A4

Special search and rescue, salvage and evacuation version.

Ka-32A7

Armed version developed from the Ka-27PS.

Ka-32A11BC

Canadian and European-certified version with Klimov TV3-117MA engines.

Ka-32A12

Swiss-registered and approved version.

KA-32C

Little-known custom version.

Ka-32M

Projected development with 1839kW TV3-117VMA-SB3 engines. Probably replaced by the Ka-32-10 project.

Ka-32S

(Helix-C) Maritime utility transport, search and rescue helicopter, fitted with an undernose radar.

Ka-32T

(Helix-C) Utility transport helicopter, with accommodation for Two crew and 16 passengers.

Ka-32K

Flying crane helicopter, fitted with a retractable gondola for a second pilot.

Operators

Ka-27 operators. Civilian in Blue, Military in Red, and both in Purple

The Ka-27

Ka-32 A12 of Heliswiss

Two Kamov Ka-32 of the Republic of Korea Coast Guard

Republic of Korea Air Force operates Kamov Ka-32A4s(local designation HH-32) for CSAR

Military and government operators

Algeria

• Algerian Air Force

China

• People's Liberation Navy

India

• Indian Navy

Russia

• Russian Navy

Syria

• Syrian Navy

Ukraine

• Ukrainian Navy

Vietnam

• Vietnamese Navy

Republic of Korea

• Republic of Korea Air Force
• Republic of Korea Coast Guard
• Korea Forest Service

Civilian operators

Brazil

• Helicargo

Canada

• Vancouver Island Helicopters

Switzerland

• Heliswiss

Japan

• Akagi Helicopter

Heliswiss Ka-32 installs digital-TV transmitter in Århus, Denmark

Portugal

• Heliportugal

Former operators

Yugoslavia

• Yugoslav Air Force

Specifications (Ka-27)

Data from

General characteristics

• Crew: 1-3, plus 2-3 specialists (Ka-27)
• Capacity: 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) payload (Ka-32), or up to 16 troops (Ka-29).
• Length: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
• Height: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
• Empty weight: 6,500 kg (14,330 lb)
• Gross weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 12,000 kg (26,455 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Isotov TV3-117V turboshaft engines, 1,660 kW (2,230 hp) each
• Main rotor diameter: 2× 15.8 m (51 ft 10 in)
• Main rotor area: 392.2 m² (4,222 sq ft) 3-bladed contra-rotating rotors

Performance

• Maximum speed: 270 km/h (168 mph; 146 kn)
• Cruising speed: 205 km/h (127 mph; 111 kn)
• Range: 980 km (609 mi; 529 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,404 ft)

Armament

Ka-27

• 1 × torpedoes (AT-1M, VTT-1, UMGT-1 Orlan, APR-2 Yastreb) or 36 RGB-NM & RGB-NM-1 sonobouys

Ka-29TB

• 1 × mobile forward firing GShG-7.62 minigun with 1800 rounds,
• 1 × 30 mm 2A42 cannon with 250 rounds (flexible semi-rigid mount, optional/removable with ammunition carried in cabin)
• four external hardpoints for bombs, rockets, gunpods, munitions dispensers, special four round missile launchers for the 9K114 Shturm

Avionics

• Radar, MAD or dipping sonar, sonobuoys

See also

• Kamov Ka-25
• Kamov Ka-31
• Eurocopter AS565 Panther
• Harbin Z-9
• SH-60 Seahawk
• Westland Lynx
• List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS
• List of helicopter models

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1996). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory. London, England: Brassey's. ISBN 1-85753-198-1. 

External links

• Kamov Ka-27 - Information Resource (eng/rus)
• Ka-28 helicopters in Chinese navy (zh-cn)