The Ka-52 is a Russian two-seat attack and reconnaissance helicopter derived from the Ka-50 and built around a coaxial rotor layout, side-by-side crew cockpit, 30 mm cannon, and guided-missile hardpoints. In the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War it became one of Russia's most visible rotary-wing strike platforms, especially in southern Ukraine where Ka-52 and Ka-52M crews used longer-range anti-tank missiles against Ukrainian ground forces.
Russian forces have used Ka-52 and Ka-52M attack helicopters in Ukraine, especially during southern fighting where UK defence intelligence assessed LMUR-equipped aircraft were firing from roughly 15 km beyond many Ukrainian short-range air-defense systems. Oryx also visually tracks dozens of Russian Ka-52 losses in the war, underlining the type's heavy exposure near the front.
Role detailsRussian Ka-52 helicopters made combat sorties in Syria in 2016 from Russia's Hmeymim deployment, with TASS reporting use of unguided rockets and guided missiles against anti-government militant targets near Homs.
Role detailsOpen-source reporting shows the Ka-52 as both a high-impact strike helicopter and a heavily attrited Russian rotary-wing platform in Ukraine.
Forces News, citing UK defence intelligence, reported Ka-52M helicopters using LMUR missiles from roughly 15 km, while Rosoboronexport lists the 305E missile's guaranteed guided flight range at 14,500 m.
TWZ reported that Ka-52 attack helicopters were repeatedly mentioned during Russian aviation attacks near the front and connected the upgraded Ka-52M to the LMUR missile family.
Oryx's visual-loss list records dozens of Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters destroyed, damaged, abandoned, or captured during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Ka-52's distinct shape matters operationally. Open reporting on the helicopter highlights a coaxial rotor system, wing-mounted stores, and enough external load that the wings can visibly vibrate in flight.
TWZ describes the Ka-52 as using an unconventional coaxial main rotor arrangement, removing the need for a tail rotor.
The same report says the wings carry armament, sensors, flare dispensers, fuel tanks, anti-tank missiles, anti-air missiles, and rocket pods.
Ukraine-era videos showed the stub wings bouncing under mixed weapon loads, which experts said could reduce reliability and weapon efficiency.
Egypt is the clearest export-service lane for the Ka-52 family. Helis records a 2015 agreement for 46 Ka-52E helicopters, first Nile Crocodile delivery in July 2017, and deliveries continuing through 2021.
Ka-52E is the export combat scout-attack configuration marketed by Rosoboronexport.
Helis identifies Egyptian Air Force aircraft under the Nile Crocodile name.
Helis lists Egyptian Ka-52 aircraft associated with Mistral-class amphibious ships, but this page keeps that as export and basing context rather than a conflict-use claim.
The Ka-52 family spans the baseline Russian Alligator, export and navalized configurations, and the modernized Ka-52M tied to longer-range standoff weapons.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ka-52 Alligator | Baseline two-seat attack and reconnaissance helicopter | Helis and Russian Helicopters material identify the Ka-52 as the two-seat Alligator/Hokum-B derivative built at Progress in Arsenyev. Sources: Russian Helicopters Ka-52, Russian Alligator Creates a Sensation at Le Bourget |
| Ka-52E | Export combat scout-attack configuration | Rosoboronexport markets the Ka-52E as a combat scout-attack helicopter with a two-person crew, 300 km/h maximum speed, 460 km internal-fuel range, and the ability to use airfields, improvised sites, sea or water platforms, and ships. Sources: Rosoboronexport Ka-52E product page |
| Ka-52M | Modernized Russian attack-helicopter configuration | TWZ describes Ka-52M upgrades including a modernized targeting turret, communication and stores-management changes, and LMUR integration; Forces News reported Ka-52M use with LMUR missiles in southern Ukraine. Sources: Enhanced Version Of Russia's Ka-52 Attack Helicopter Appears, New Russian Ka-52 Attack Helicopters Inflicting Heavy Cost on Ukraine, Defence Intelligence Reports |
| Ka-52K Katran | Ship-based naval variant | Russian Helicopters material describes the Ka-52K as a ship-based Ka-52 variant for the Russian Navy with folding blades and wings, maritime avionics, upgraded air conditioning, and corrosion-resistant materials. |
Source material shows the Ka-52 carrying both unguided rocket pods and air-launched Igla-V missiles, giving the helicopter a mixed strike and self-defense loadout.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Unguided rocket family | Yugoimport's B8V20 brochure lists the Ka-52 and its modifications as a carrier for 80 mm unguided airborne rockets, confirming a direct Ka-52 to S-8 relationship. Sources: B8V20 rocket launcher |
 | Laser-guided anti-tank missile | Army Recognition reports Kalashnikov Vikhr-1 deliveries for Russian Ka-52 helicopters, tying the cataloged Vikhr-1 missile to the Ka-52's anti-armor loadout. Sources: Kalashnikov delivers Vikhr-1 missiles to Russian MoD |
 | Long-range guided multipurpose missile | Rosoboronexport lists Ka-52 helicopters among 305E carriers, and Ukraine reporting on Ka-52M use describes LMUR's longer standoff reach in southern fighting. Sources: Rosoboronexport 305E product page, New Russian Ka-52 Attack Helicopters Inflicting Heavy Cost on Ukraine, Defence Intelligence Reports |
 | Air-to-air self-defense missile | TWZ reported that Ka-52s in Ukraine were carrying 9M39 Igla-V missiles on the outer pylons, making the Igla family a documented air-launched loadout. Sources: Russia's Ka-52 Attack Helicopters Have A Serious Vibration Problem |
Helis reports that the first Ka-52 flew in June 1997.
Sources: Russian Helicopters Ka-52
Helis says serial production of the Ka-52 began in 2008 at the Progress Arsenyev Aviation plant in Russia's Far East.
Sources: Russian Helicopters Ka-52
Russian Ka-52 helicopters made combat sorties in Syria in early April 2016, according to TASS reporting from the Hmeymim deployment.
Sources: Russia's Alligator Combat Helicopter Made Its Debut in Syria in Early April
Helis records Egypt's first Nile Crocodile delivery in July 2017 after a 2015 agreement for 46 Ka-52E helicopters.
Sources: Ka-52 in Egyptian Air Force
Forces News reported UK defence intelligence assessments that Ka-52 and Ka-52M helicopters were firing LMUR missiles from roughly 15 km away in southern Ukraine.
Sources: New Russian Ka-52 Attack Helicopters Inflicting Heavy Cost on Ukraine, Defence Intelligence Reports
