{
  "id": "ka-50-black-shark",
  "name": "Ka-50 Black Shark (Hokum A)",
  "aliases": [
    "Kamov Ka-50 \"Black Shark\""
  ],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "Attack helicopter",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1995,
  "operators": [
    "RUS"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 1,
  "summary": "The Ka-50, also nicknamed the Chernaya Akula (Black Shark) was a Soviet attack helicopter. Its NATO reporting name was Hokum.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Kamov",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 1,
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hardpoints",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "4 (6 on Ka-52) under-wing hardpoints, plus 2 on wingtips for countermeasures or air-to-air missiles with a capacity of 2,000 kg",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 7.3,
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Wingspan"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 4.9,
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 7692,
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Empty weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "2 x turboshaft Klimov TV3-117VMA",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "2,200 shaft hp each",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of climb",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "600 m/min",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Endurance",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "3 Hours",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire Control Radar",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Millimeter wave radar",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Night Vision",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Electro-optical sight; takes one pylon slot",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "IFF",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, Slap Shot System",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Data Link",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, with ground units",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Protection against 12.7-mm armor-piercing bullets and 23-mm projectile fragments",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Heat Signature Reduction",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Exhaust infrared (IR) suppressors",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "EW Counter System",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Counter Measures (Chaff/Flares)",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "launchers in wingtip pods",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Wing Mounted Weapons",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "The Ka-50 can also be outfitted with the Kh-25MP (AS-12 Kegler) Missile and FAB 500 or tactical dispensers",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "v": "Shipunov 2A42,; S-8 Rocket; R-60 Missile (AA-8 Aphid\"); 9K121 Vikhr (AT-16 Scallion)",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "Shipunov 2A42,",
      "role": "30mm Autocannon",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "30mm Autocannon",
        "Caliber": "30 mm"
      },
      "qty": "2,000 ea"
    },
    {
      "name": "S-8 Rocket",
      "role": "Rocket",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Rocket",
        "Warhead": "HEAT",
        "Warhead weight": "3.6 kg",
        "Speed": "692 m/s"
      },
      "range_km": 4,
      "qty": "80 separate S-80 Rockets in four B-8 Series Rocket Pods ea"
    },
    {
      "name": "R-60 Missile (AA-8 Aphid\")",
      "role": "Short-range lightweight infrared homing air-to-air missile",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Short-range lightweight infrared homing air-to-air missile",
        "Guidance": "Infrared Homing",
        "Warhead": "3 kg",
        "Speed": "Mach 2.7",
        "Length": "2,090 mm"
      },
      "range_km": 8
    },
    {
      "name": "9K121 Vikhr (AT-16 Scallion)",
      "role": "Laser-Guided ATGM Missile",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Laser-Guided ATGM Missile",
        "Guidance": "Laser beam riding",
        "Warhead": "Tandem HEAT charge",
        "Warhead weight": "8-12 kg",
        "Speed": "600 m/s",
        "Length": "2.80 m"
      },
      "range_km": [
        10,
        12
      ],
      "qty": "12 ea"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Kamov V-80",
      "text": "Prototype version for Ka-50.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-50",
      "text": "Single-seat version.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-50N",
      "text": "Ka-50 with night attack capability.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-50Sh",
      "text": "Ka-50 with improved night attack capability.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-50-2 \"Erdogan\"",
      "text": "Version with a two-seat tandem cockpit.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-52 \"Alligator\"",
      "text": "Highly upgraded version with a two-seat side-by-side cockpit for the Russian Air Force.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-52K \"Katran\"",
      "text": "Naval version with folding blade and reinforced landing gear, wing shortened for basing on ships and the possibility of using Kh-35 anti-ship missile.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-50-black-shark"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "helicopter",
  "image": {
    "file": "ka-50-black-shark.jpg",
    "thumb": "ka-50-black-shark-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Karen Abeyasekere, U.S. Air Force",
    "license": "Public domain",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kamov_Ka-50_in_Moscow.jpg",
    "title": "File:Kamov Ka-50 in Moscow.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (Public domain)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/ka-50-black-shark.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-ka-50-black-shark": {
      "title": "Ka-50 Black Shark (Hokum A) Russian Attack Helicopter",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Ka-50_Black_Shark_Hokum_A_Russian_Attack_Helicopter",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}