{
  "id": "ka-52",
  "name": "Ka-52 Alligator",
  "aliases": [
    "Kamov Ka-52 Alligator",
    "Hokum B"
  ],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "Attack helicopter",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": 2008,
  "operators": [
    "EGY",
    "MKD",
    "RUS"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 4,
  "summary": "The Kamov Ka-52 \"Alligator\" (Hokum-B) is an upgraded form of the original Ka-50 \"Hokum\" attack helicopter line. While the Ka-50 utilized a single-seat cockpit, the most notable difference in the new mark is the twin-seat, side-by-side cockpit.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Kamov",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 2,
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hardpoints",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "6 total (1 inner, 1 middle, 1 tip on each wing)",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 7.34,
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Wingspan"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 4.95,
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 8550,
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Empty weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "payload_kg",
      "v": 2800,
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "2 x turboshaft Klimov TV3-117VMA-SB3",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "2,400 shaft hp each",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of climb",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "480 m/min",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire Control System Type",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Samshit-E system",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire Control Radar",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Arbalet Radar",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Sighting System",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Shkval electro-optical sighting system",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Night Vision",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Samshit-E optics",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "IFF",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, Slap Shot System",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Data Link",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, with ground units",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Flight Computer",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Multi-level digital flight computer",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Navigation System",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Nadir-10 navigation system",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Radar Warning Receiver",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Pastel (L-150) radar warning receiver",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Laser Warning System",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Mak (L-136) infrared and Otklik (L-140) laser warning systems",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret sensor",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "GOES-451 sensor",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Protection against 12.7-mm armor-piercing bullets and 23-mm projectile fragments",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Heat Signature Reduction",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Exhaust infrared (IR) suppressors",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "EW Counter System",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "passive and active electronic warfare systems",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Counter Measures (Chaff/Flares)",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "can be loaded on pylons as required",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Decoys",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "23-mm rejector pods loaded on tip pylons as required, 32 decoys per pod",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Wing Mounted Weapons",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "The ka-52 can also equip: INNER PYLON Rockets: B-8 V-20 80-mm rocket pod carrying 20 S-80 rockets Bombs: UPK-23-250 250-kg FAB-250 bomb 500-kg FAB-500 bomb 500-kg KAB-500Kr bomb KMGU cluster bomb Anti-Radar: Kh-25MP (AS-10 Kegler) missile MIDDLE PYLON…",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "CVI: WEFT: wings",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Coaxial contra-rotating rotor blades. Weapon load mount wings are straight.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "CVI: WEFT: engine",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Engine vector exhaust, Dual air inlets.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "CVI: WEFT: fuselage",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "2 x pilots sit side-by-side under wide canopy, Large airplane-type nose to house the radar system, Retractable landing gear. 30mm chain gun mounted on fuselage (right side).",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "CVI: WEFT: tail",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "No tail rotor in this configuration. Single vertical stabilizer.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "v": "1 x Shipunov 2A42,; S-8 Rocket; R-60 Missile (AA-8 Aphid\"); 9K121 Vikhr (AT-16 Scallion)",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "Shipunov 2A42 30 mm cannon",
      "role": "Autocannon",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Autocannon",
        "Caliber": "30 mm"
      },
      "qty": "460 ea"
    },
    {
      "name": "S-8 Rocket",
      "role": "Rocket",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ],
      "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-52"
      ],
      "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-52"
      ],
      "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-52"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-50",
      "text": "Single-seat version.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-50N",
      "text": "Ka-50 with night attack capability.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-50Sh",
      "text": "Ka-50 with improved night attack capability.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Kamov Ka-50-2 \"Erdogan\"",
      "text": "Version with a two-seat tandem cockpit.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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-52"
      ]
    },
    {
      "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-52"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Ka-52M",
      "text": "The new version announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2018 eventually crystalized into the Ka-52M; 114 helicopters of this new version are to be acquired. Additionally, older Ka-52s are to be upgraded to Ka-52M standard.",
      "src": [
        "weg-ka-52"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "helicopter",
  "image": {
    "file": "ka-52.jpg",
    "thumb": "ka-52-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Alex Beltyukov",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 3.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Russian_Air_Force_Kamov_Ka-52_Beltyukov-2.jpg",
    "title": "File:Russian Air Force Kamov Ka-52 Beltyukov-2.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-05",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-06",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 3.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/ka-52.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-ka-52": {
      "title": "Ka-52 Alligator (Hokum B) Russian Attack Helicopter",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Ka-52_Alligator_Hokum_B_Russian_Attack_Helicopter",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}