Russian Aerial ‘Alligators’ Slow Ukraine’s Offensive

ANALYSIS – I must admit that, initially, I was disappointed in the Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters' performance in Ukraine. I expected more from their fearsome-looking ‘Alligators.'

That's their Russian name. NATO calls them ‘Hokum Bs.' And Russian forces lost a lot of them during the early stages of their invasion.

But perceptions may be changing. While Russia has likely lost “around forty” Ka-52s since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the type is still imposing a “heavy cost,” according to the U.K.'s Defense Intelligence agency. (RELATED: Why Russian Tanks Are Getting Their Turrets Blown Clean Off In Ukraine)

The latest Kamov Ka-52M attack helicopter, more accurately called an armed reconnaissance and combat platform, developed from combat experience in Syria, is proving to be a formidable adversary as the Ukrainian army continues its counteroffensive against Russian forces.

The KA-52M is claimed to have a modernized electro-optical targeting turret, advanced communications and a stores management system.

Its newest missiles are also adding a much-needed longer-range anti-tank punch. This has put them more safely outside Ukrainian air defenses.

A highly upgraded version of the Ka-50 used by the Russian Aerospace Forces, the Ka-52 has a two-seat side-by-side cockpit. The Alligator features distinctive coaxial main rotors and made its international debut at the Paris air show in June 2013.

With a maximum speed of 300 km/h with a cruising speed nearing 162 mph (260 km/h), it has a combat radius of about 286 miles (460 kilometers) and can fly as high as 18,000 feet (5,500 meters).

According to the U.S. Army:

The Ka-52 carries a 30mm 2A42-1 cannon along the starboard side of its fuselage. There is limited traversal given which requires the pilots to position the entire aircraft in the direction of fire but overall accuracy is said to be better than that of a turreted chin gun seen in other modern attack helicopters. Beyond this standard installation, the wing stubs of the helicopter support Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs), rockets, rocket pods, gun pods, and cannon pods as required.

A key improvement for the Ka-52 fleet is the new LMUR anti-tank missile with a range of 9.3 miles (15km), allowing the helicopter to conduct strikes outside the range of Ukrainian air defenses. (RELATED: US Looking To Prototype Hypersonic Missile Defense)

As David Hambling notes in Forbes, until the deployment of the LMUR:

Russian helicopters like the Ka-52 are designed for the anti-tank role with laser-guided Vikhr and ATAKA anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), with ranges of around 10 km and 6 km, respectively. However, these missiles require line-of-sight with the target and the limited range tends to bring the helicopter dangerously close to Ukraine's air defenses, such as U.S. supplied Stinger shoulder-launched missiles and the Starstreak from the U.K.

This is why most attack helicopters on both sides have been limited to rocket lofting attacks in which the helicopter flies close to the ground then angles sharply upwards to launch volleys of unguided rockets towards enemy positions before turning away. They are highly inaccurate, but lobbing rockets in this way does not expose the helicopter to enemy fire.

LMUR is in a different league. Technically known as the Izdeliye Product 305, the name LMUR is from Lyogkaya Mnogotselevaya Upravlayemaya Raketa (“Lightweight Multipurpose Guided Missile”). The weapon was first revealed in 2007, with testing starting in 2015 and production after 2016. ‘Lightweight' is something of a misnomer, as it weighs over 200 pounds, twice as much as the Vihkr missile and six times as much as ATAKA.

Rather than relying on laser guidance, the LMUR uses a combination of thermal imaging and satellite navigation. In the direct-fire mode, the operator locks the thermal seeker on to a target and fires (a similar system to the U.S. Javelin portable anti-tank missile). For longer-range encounters though, the operator can fire the missile from out of sight towards specified co-ordinates, then use the missile's thermal imager to find and lock on to the target.

The recent success of Russian aerial attack platforms such as the Ka-52M armed with LMURs may lend urgency to Kyiv's pleas for more long-range air defenses, like the Patriot system, or modern western fighter aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin F-16, or other long-range weapons to hit Russian air bases.

Otherwise, the slow slog on the ground may continue.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

READ NEXT: Republican Senator Gives Update After Medical Scare