Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters are the best examples of a good gunship with no equivalent to NATO, with higher speeds than the AH-64.
But as of later, their lethality is still with a strong punch against unarmored targets, but they fell against mere infantry when they should have flown with impunity. Several have been shot down in the conflict with Ukraine, and there is a reason why it's happening.
Russian Attack Helicopters
If went toe to toe with an Apache AH-64 E, the co-axial Alligator gunship would be facing equal chances, but against odds in Ukraine; its mind-boggling, reported the 19FortyFive.
In another conflict, the presence of the Soviet Gators would make adversaries sweat, but not the Ukrainians. The Daily Mail noted that Ukraine shot down four of these attack gunships.
The development of the Kamov Alligator is different from western gunship with a different set of precepts, cited Air Force Technology.
The 34 Kamovs that accompanied troops and special forces spearheaded the blitzing attack on Ukraine to gain control of the Antonov strategic airport at Gostomel.
The mission of the fast gunships was to hammer the defenders and allow a crushing blow in the morning of February 24. Its role is to dash in and wreck anti-air and troops with speed, but losses happened.
Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters would fly in 1997 for the first time and be built starting in 2008, and by 2011 it was used by the Russian Air Force.
A total of 70 are in service, with side-by-side tandem seating equipped with helmet-mounted display and heads-up-display on the frontal windshield to manage targets.
It has a modern and advanced electronic countermeasures suite; jamming pod, radar warning, and the laser detect system. There is chaff and flares to escape heat-seeking missiles as well. But they were hit by man-portable air-defense that was not supposed to happen.
a-52s are made to fight with speed and agility in most airspace, with a top speed of 192 miles per hour and powered by a dual turboshaft engine. Armor is placed on critical parts of the gunship to survive minor arms hits, like armor all over the cockpit. Russian sources show that despite shot choppers with them with videos with successful assaults.
Soviet-era Weapons System
Armed with heat seekers, the Ukrainians were able to counter the Ka-52 heavy weapons load; Ukrainians destroyed the radar-guided missiles, but Soviet-era style Strelas or Iglas portable missiles were effective in this case, remarked Military Today.
An example of the loadout is a 30-millimeter dual cannon, anti-armor missiles on wings; other weapons are rocket launchers for massive missile attacks. It means the heat seekers are finding their mark too often, which is not suitable for Russian planners because simple weapons quickly took down a modern chopper. Similar to Afghanistan, that is not good.
The Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters need to fly at higher altitudes and use flares to stop heat seekers more, needing to adjust how to go in fast and dismantle defense by flying high and fast, with improved tactics.
