Now serving as 1945’s Defense and National Security Editor, Brent M. But the defenders are showing no fear and making Alligator pilots think twice when it comes to attacking the Ukrainians defending their homeland. This is another example of the Ukrainians neutralizing an aircraft that was supposed to use overwhelming firepower and shock and awe to intimidate the Ukrainians. The Russians may have to adjust tactics and fly the Alligator at higher altitudes and require their pilots to release more flares to try and spoof the heat-seeking missiles. It conjures bad memories of Russian difficulties against insurgent-fired Stinger missiles during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Here is a world-class gunship falling to shoulder-fired missiles. The overall performance of the Ka-52 must be mystifying and frustrating for the Russians. The Russians Are Left Scratching Their Heads Not to be outdone, the Russians have put out their own video showing successful attacks from the Alligator. Its armor is also designed to withstand anti-aircraft hits.īut this video shows a downed Ka-52 that crashed and burned in Kherson due to air defense fire from Ukrainian forces. Two turboshaft engines put out a top speed of 192 miles per hour. The Russians also believe the Ka-52 has the speed and agility to maneuver its way through contested air space. The pilots must have been surprised to be hit with missile fire from the MANPADs (Man-portable air-defense systems). The Alligators should have released chaff and flares to ward off heat-seeking missiles. It has jamming pods, radar warning, and laser detection. The Ka-52 difficulty with Ukrainian missile defenses should have been mitigated with the helicopters advanced electronic countermeasures suite. They each have helmet-mounted displays along with a heads-up display on the front windshield to improve the weapons’ targeting and delivery. By 2011, the Ka-52 entered service in numbers with the Russian air force.

The Alligator first flew in 1997 and began manufacturing in 2008.

Rocket copter