Aircraft & UAVs

Ka-27

Also known as
  • Kamov Ka-27
  • Ka-27 Helix
  • Helix-A
  • Helix-D
  • Ka-27PL
  • Ka-27PS
  • Ka-27M
  • Ka-28

The Ka-27 is Kamov's coaxial-rotor naval helicopter family, built around compact shipboard anti-submarine, maritime search, rescue, and utility missions. Russian naval aviation used the type around the Black Sea during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, where Ukrainian naval reporting and independent coverage documented a Russian Ka-27 destroyed during a March 2026 strike on forces at the Syvash drilling platform.

Ka-27, Shipborne anti-submarine and search-and-rescue helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Commons Russian Helix KA-27 Image

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union / Russia
Built by
Kamov
Type
Shipborne anti-submarine and search-and-rescue helicopter
Service note
Entered Soviet naval service in the early 1980s; still operated by Russian naval aviation and export users.
Designer
Kamov Design Bureau
Designed
Late 1960s to 1970s development; prototype flight reported on 24 December 1973.
Produced
Series production began in 1979 at Kumertau; later Ka-27M modernization work continued for Russian naval aviation.
Developed from
Kamov Ka-25 shipborne helicopter family

Specifications

Crew
Typically 3 on Ka-27PL: pilot, navigator, and sonar/operator station.
Rotor system
Coaxial counter-rotating main rotors; no tail rotor.
Powerplant
Two Klimov/Isotov TV3-117-series turboshaft engines.
Rotor diameter
15.8 m.
Length
11.3 m.
Height
5.5 m.
Maximum takeoff weight
About 12,000 kg.
Maximum speed
About 270 km/h.
Range
About 980 km in common reference figures; operational ASW radius depends on payload and mission profile.
Sensors and payload
Ka-27PL associated with maritime radar, dipping sonar or magnetic-anomaly detection, sonobuoys, one lightweight torpedo, and depth or marker bombs.
Ka-27M upgrade package
Modernized Ka-27M helicopters received a tactical command system combining acoustic, magnetometric, radio-reconnaissance, information-computation, and active phased-array radar components.
Museum-displayed Ka-27PL figures
Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum lists a 3-person crew, two TV3-117VK engines rated at 2,225 hp each, 12,000 kg maximum takeoff weight, and up to 2 h 40 min flight duration for its Ka-27PL.
Shipboard role
Deck helicopter for frigates, destroyers, cruisers, and other larger naval vessels.
Shipboard Design Context

The Ka-27 family uses Kamov's coaxial rotor layout to keep the helicopter compact for ship decks and eliminate a tail rotor. In naval use, the baseline anti-submarine version combined maritime radar with underwater search sensors and expendable stores, while the rescue version traded the ASW package for hoist and recovery equipment.

Primary naval role

Anti-submarine search, surface search, maritime surveillance, and rescue support from larger warships.

Sources: ODIN Ka-27 Helix Profile; State Aviation Museum Ka-27PL.

Layout

Twin-engine coaxial helicopter with no tail rotor, suited to compact flight decks and hover work over water.

Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview; Airforce Technology Helix Profile.

Modernization lane

Ka-27M upgrades added new radar, avionics, communications, and command-system links for Russian naval aviation.

Sources: TASS Ka-27M Delivery; AIN Ka-27M Modernization; Aero-News Ka-27M Serial Delivery.

Variants

The Ka-27 family separates anti-submarine, search-and-rescue, export, assault-transport, civil, and modernized naval configurations around the same compact coaxial shipboard layout.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Ka-27PLAnti-submarine warfare version

Baseline naval ASW model associated with radar, dipping sonar or magnetic-anomaly detection, sonobuoys, torpedoes, and depth charges.

Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview, Deagel Ka-27M Profile

Ka-27PSSearch-and-rescue version

Search-and-rescue configuration with ASW equipment removed and a rescue hoist fitted.

Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview

Ka-27MModernized Russian naval aviation configuration

Modernized model with updated radar, avionics, communications, and tactical systems delivered to Russian naval aviation from the late 2010s.

Sources: TASS Ka-27M Delivery, AIN Ka-27M Modernization

Ka-28Export anti-submarine variant

Export designation for the Ka-27 anti-submarine family, documented in foreign naval use.

Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview, Deagel Ka-27M Profile

Ka-29, Shipborne assault transport helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsKa-29Assault transport derivative

Armored assault-transport member of the Helix family with troop carriage and external weapon stations, adjacent to but distinct from the Ka-27 ASW/SAR versions.

Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview, Airforce Technology Helix Profile

Ka-32Civil and utility derivative

Civil and utility branch of the family used for transport, firefighting, and specialized lift roles.

Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview

Timeline

Ka-27 Key Events

  1. Development starts

    Kamov began developing the Ka-27 as a compact shipborne successor to the Ka-25 for Soviet naval missions.

    Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview

  2. Prototype flight

    The Ka-27 prototype is reported to have first flown on 24 December 1973.

    Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview, Helis Ka-27 Database

  3. Series production begins

    Series production started at Kumertau, establishing the Ka-27 as the Soviet Navy's next-generation deck helicopter.

    Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview

  4. Soviet Navy service entry

    The Ka-27 entered Soviet Navy service in the early 1980s for anti-submarine, maritime patrol, and rescue tasks.

    Sources: Wikipedia Ka-27 Overview, Deagel Ka-27M Profile

  5. First Ka-27M batch delivered

    Russia's Defense Ministry reported the first eight modernized Ka-27M deck helicopters arriving for naval aviation.

    Sources: TASS Ka-27M Delivery

  6. Ka-27M serial modernization cleared

    A Russian Helicopters release republished by Aero-News said documentation for Ka-27M serial modernization had been validated and that Kumertau would carry out the upgrade work.

    Sources: Aero-News Ka-27M Serial Delivery

  7. Russian Ka-27 hit near Kamyshly

    Ukraine's General Staff said Ukrainian forces struck a Russian shipborne Ka-27 near Kamyshly in occupied Crimea and recorded a direct hit.

    Sources: NV Ka-27 Kamyshly Strike

  8. Russian Ka-27 destroyed over the Black Sea

    Ukrainian naval reporting said Navy and Special Operations Forces struck Russian forces at the Syvash drilling platform and destroyed a Russian Ka-27.

    Sources: Ukrinform Ka-27 Black Sea, Ukrainska Pravda Ka-27 Syvash, NV Ka-27 Black Sea, UNITED24 Ka-27 FPV Strike, Defense Express Ka-27 FPV Strike

Media

Ka-27 Videos

Ka-27 Images

Ka-27, Shipborne anti-submarine and search-and-rescue helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Commons Ukrainian Ka-27 Image
Ka-27, Shipborne anti-submarine and search-and-rescue helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: Commons BALTOPS Ka-27 Image
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Sources

Wikipedia Ka-27 OverviewPublisher: Wikipedia | Note: Baseline terminology, development chronology, family variants, crew layout, and common specification leads; checked against specialist and official/reporting sources where used for publishable claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-13ODIN Ka-27 Helix ProfilePublisher: U.S. Army TRADOC ODIN | Note: Supports general Ka-27 Helix identity and anti-submarine helicopter context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Airforce Technology Helix ProfilePublisher: Airforce Technology | Note: Supports Ka-27/28/29 family context, naval mission descriptions, and performance figures. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Deagel Ka-27M ProfilePublisher: Deagel | Note: Supports Ka-27 mission roles, Ka-27PL/PS distinction, shipborne Russian Navy use, and sensor/armament context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Helis Ka-27 DatabasePublisher: Helis.com | Note: Supports first-flight date and compact reference specifications for the Ka-27 Helix family. | Accessed: 2026-07-13TASS Ka-27M DeliveryPublisher: TASS | Note: Reports Russian Defense Ministry statements that eight modernized Ka-27M deck helicopters arrived for Russian naval aviation and describes their sea reconnaissance, anti-submarine, and search roles. | Accessed: 2026-07-13AIN Ka-27M ModernizationPublisher: AIN | Note: Supports Ka-27M modernization context, including new radar, avionics, communications, and Russian Helicopters contract background. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Aero-News Ka-27M Serial DeliveryPublisher: Aero-News Network | Note: Republication of a Russian Helicopters/Rostec release supporting Ka-27M serial-delivery readiness, Kumertau modernization work, tactical command-system components, improved ship/submarine detection, and Russian Naval Aviation role context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13State Aviation Museum Ka-27PLPublisher: Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum | Note: Supports Ka-27PL museum-display specifications, anti-submarine role, Ukrainian Navy frigate context, armament summary, and reported production totals. | Accessed: 2026-07-13NV Ka-27 Kamyshly StrikePublisher: The New Voice of Ukraine | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use/loss context: Ukraine's General Staff said Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Ka-27 shipborne helicopter near Kamyshly in occupied Crimea on February 17, 2026 and recorded a direct hit. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Ukrinform Ka-27 Black SeaPublisher: Ukrinform | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use/loss context: Ukrainian forces said they destroyed a Russian shipborne anti-submarine Ka-27 over the Black Sea. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Ukrainska Pravda Ka-27 SyvashPublisher: Ukrainska Pravda | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use/loss context: Ukrainian Navy and Special Operations Forces struck Russian forces at the Syvash drilling rig and reported a Russian Ka-27 destroyed. | Accessed: 2026-07-13NV Ka-27 Black SeaPublisher: The New Voice of Ukraine | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use/loss context: Ukraine's Navy said Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian shipborne anti-submarine Ka-27 over the Black Sea on March 5, 2026. | Accessed: 2026-07-13UNITED24 Ka-27 FPV StrikePublisher: UNITED24 Media | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use/loss context: reporting based on Ukrainian Navy footage and Defense Express analysis described a Russian Ka-27 destroyed near the Syvash platform by an FPV drone launched from or relayed through a naval drone. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Defense Express Ka-27 FPV StrikePublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use/loss context and technical caveat: Defense Express reported the Ukrainian Navy video showed a Ka-27 destroyed on the Syvash platform by an FPV drone and assessed the drone was likely launched from a naval drone, while the exact launch platform was not shown. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Oryx Russian Equipment LossesPublisher: Oryx | Note: Supports wider 2014 Russia-Ukraine War loss context for Russian Ka-27/29 naval helicopters where photo or video evidence is available, but the compact conflict row relies on exact Ka-27 sources separately. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Commons Russian Helix KA-27 ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports reusable primary image provenance for a Russian Ka-27 helicopter photographed by the U.S. Navy in 2009. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Commons Ukrainian Ka-27 ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports reusable gallery image provenance for a Ukrainian Ka-27 during Sea Breeze 2016. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Commons BALTOPS Ka-27 ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports reusable gallery image provenance for a Russian Ka-27 landing on USS San Jacinto during BALTOPS 2003. | Accessed: 2026-07-13