Ka-50 doubts expressed by head of Russian Army Aviation

Published: 10/26/1999

Lieutenant General Yevgeny Kashitsyn, Army Aviation Chief-of-Staff, has defended the use of the Mi-24 helicopter in Dagestan, rather than the Ka-50 “Black Shark”, stating that the Mi-24 had “performed brilliantly”. He said that the Ka-50 was “biding its time”: the small number of these helicopters will delay their use until absolutely necessary. In fact, at last report, one training squadron of Ka-50 helicopters based in Torzhok - is the only Russia's Army Aviation unit so far equipped. The initial order for 15 Ka-50s was also reported cancelled in September of 1998, postponed until 2003. Kashitsyn acknowledged that not every flight mission undertaken by the Mi-24 had proved fully satisfactory, but insisted that “its power and armour will last well into the 21st century”. He said that, at the end of 1998, after ten years in service, the Mi-24 “got its second wind”, when the first modified Mi-24VM made its maiden flight from the airfield at the Mil factory. Kashitsyn confirmed that the modification, which includes a laser distance indicator, scrambled communications equipment, a new command radio and an upgraded system of anti tank missiles and guided anti aircraft missiles should extend the service life of all Mi-24s in the army, which total over 1,000 helicopters. There have been concerns expressed by a number of commentators, that despite the Mi-24 upgrade, the aircraft's size makes it vulnerable to modern man-portable anti aircraft weapons such as the Stinger. He conceded that the Ka-50 helicopter, whilst unparalleled in many respects (www.concise.org 24th of February 1999), was still dogged by maintenance problems, owing to the shortage of special equipment and tests, but added that it was “being constantly modernised”. Kashitsyn admitted that: We would like to possess the Mi-28 in the army, but we have to be content with what we have. The latter public statement is a curious one from such a senior Army officer given that the Ka-50 and Mi-28 where seen as having slogged it out in fly off in 1994 and by presidential decree, the Ka-50 won the position of favoured attack helicopter not only for the Russian Army, but for export markets. The debate about the helicopter has however, continued with concerns being expressed about the coaxial contrarotating rotors and the revision of requirements from the Russian Army for night flying which favour the two seat Mi-28.

Article ID: 1013