The Russian Defense Ministry, based on the Syrian experience, ordered the modernization of combat helicopters Ka-52 "Alligator", Izvestia.
OCD designed to 2 of the year. In fact, military ordered a new car, which will exceed the characteristics of domestic and foreign counterparts. Corps helicopter "will acquire" composite armor, its arsenal replenished further elaborated missiles "Whirlwind" and the long-range complex "Hermes". They will be upgraded and opto-electronic systems, that will detect enemy armor at a distance 10 km (Now a little more 5 km).
Currently, the Ka-52 has an effective counter MANPADS missile system. However, the armor protection can withstand a bullet caliber machine-gun 7,62 mm. The fire at the helicopter from a heavy machine gun can be fatal for the crew (caliber bullets 12,7 mm stands only frontal armor). So today, engineers are working to improve the strength of the cab without increasing the overall weight of the machine (little more than 10 t). Solved the problem by replacing the titanium is to protect high-strength composite materials, that can withstand hit a 23-mm shells.
Besides, Defense set the task to upgrade airborne weapons in order to increase their range, including "Whirlwind-M" anti-tank missiles (at night it can be used at a distance, not exceeding 5 km). Besides, soon to be completed work on the creation of "Hermes-A" rocket, range of action which is about 20 km.
According to military expert Anton Lavrov, the greater the range of the use of weapons, the less a helicopter will appear at the forefront of, that will significantly reduce the probability of loss. Nevertheless, it is impossible to exclude the shelling machine of small arms from the ground. Therefore, an additional reservation it will not be more than.
