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Russia

Russian Helicopters

Ka-52 Alligator

A twin-seat, coaxial-rotor Russian attack helicopter derived from the single-seat Ka-50 Black Shark, distinguished by contra-rotating rotors that eliminate the need for a tail rotor. It is heavily used by Russian forces for reconnaissance and anti-armor strike, including in the war in Ukraine.

In service since 2011 · 3 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-01

300

km/h

460

km range

5,500

m ceiling

2,000

kg payload

Several performance figures for Russia-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

💲 ≈ $16,000,000, Approximate publicly reported unit cost

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Russian state channel

Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.

Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)

Fielded & proven

Limited · 3 operators

In service since 2011. Status: active · ~150 built.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

$40M – $56M

Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~30 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price.

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Compatible munitions & weapons

Publicly reported weapons the Ka-52 Alligator can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.

9K121 Vikhr 9M120 Ataka S-8 rockets

R-73 air-to-air missile

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.: 300 km/h

Stronger than 53% of helicopters
Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station.: 250 km/h

Stronger than 30% of helicopters
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 460 km

Stronger than 16% of helicopters
Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.: 5,500 m

Stronger than 41% of helicopters
Rate of climb How fast the aircraft gains altitude. Higher means better energy recovery in combat.: 10 m/s

Stronger than 27% of helicopters

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.: 30 mm 2A42 autocannon
Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.: 6

Stronger than 88% of helicopters
Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.: 2,000 kg

Stronger than 78% of helicopters

Protection

Armor, countermeasures and survivability.

Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified.: Armored cockpit tub with ejection-capable K-37-800 rocket-assisted seats
Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers.: President-S electronic warfare suite, chaff, flares, L-370 Vitebsk defensive suite (upgraded variants)

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 13.5 m
Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles.: 4.95 m
Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.: 7,800 kg
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.: 10,400 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 2

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Engine Powerplant model and type.: 2x Klimov VK-2500 turboshaft, 2400 hp each
Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost.: 2
Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster.: 2,400 hp

Stronger than 86% of helicopters
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: Turboshaft

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.: Samshit-E electro-optical/thermal sighting system, Rakurs day/night sight, helmet-mounted target designation
Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations.: Yes

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper.: $16,000,000

Stronger than 82% of helicopters
Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 150

Stronger than 41% of helicopters
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 3

Stronger than 50% of helicopters

Specifications compiled from public Russian Helicopters and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator has a maximum speed of 300 km/h.

What is the range of the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator has a maximum range of 460 km.

What is the weapons payload of the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator can carry up to 2,000 kg of weapons payload.

How much does the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator weigh? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator has a combat weight of 10,400 kg.

How many crew does the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator require? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator requires a crew of 2.

What is the main armament of the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator's primary weapon is the 30 mm 2A42 autocannon.

What engine does the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator use? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator is powered by the 2x Klimov VK-2500 turboshaft, 2400 hp each.

What is the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator used for? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator is a helicopter typically used for close air support, anti armor, isr.

How many countries operate the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator is operated by 3 countries.

How much does the Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator cost? +

The Russian Helicopters Ka-52 Alligator has an approximate unit cost of 16,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.