Russia plans to equip its fleet of Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopters with Vikhr-M anti-tank missiles.
The announcement came from Commander of Russian Aerospace Forces Sergei Surovikin in a statement made on Wednesday at the Army-2021 military forum. Surovikin revealed that the project will commence next year.
Along with the announcement of missile installations for the Alligator aircraft, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also inspected the Russian Aerospace Forces’ aircraft and weapons systems at the forum.
Mandated by Shoigu, the focus of the Ka-52M system upgrade to the attack helicopter is for it to neutralize an enemy outside its firing range.
The Ka-52 System
Developed by the Kamov Design Bureau, the Ka-52 attack helicopter is an improved version of its predecessor, the Ka-50. Both are manufactured by Progress Arsenyev Aviation and can carry two crew members. Used primarily to neutralize enemy tanks and armored vehicles, the first unit in the series rolled out in December 1996 and first flew in June 1997.