Ka-28 Helix Naval Helicopter

The PLA Navy has acquired a total of eight Kamov Ka-28 (NATO codename: Helix) naval helicopters from Russia since 1997. These helicopters are being deployed onboard the four Russian-built Project 956 Sovremenny class destroyers as well as some Chinese indigenous destroyers. The helicopters acquired by the PLA Navy include five anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants (Helix-A): 9144, 9154, 9164, 9174, and 9184, and three search and rescue (SAR) variants (Helix-D): 9114, 9124, and 9134.

The Ka-28 is the export version of the Russian Navy’s Ka-27 Helix helicopter. It uses a unique twin contra-rotating rotor that makes for a shorter, squatter, but taller aircraft. The helicopter can carry up to 800kg payload and has an endurance of about 2 hours for anti-ship targeting or ASW missions. Its radar provides long-range targeting data for the SS-N-22 Sunburn (Moskit) and Club anti-ship missiles. For its antisubmarine missions the Ka-28 is equipped with dipping sonar and sonobouys.

Compared to Chinese indigenous designs such as Z-9C, the Ka-28 represents a significant step forward in terms of performance and capabilities. The helicopter is designed detect, track and destroy submerged submarines at a depth of 500m and running at speeds up to 75km/h at any time of year and in all weather conditions.

Design

The Ka-28 is fitted with a coaxial main rotor with folding blades. The composite blades are fitted with an electric thermal de-icing system. The aerodynamic and design parameters allow the helicopters to be stowed in small shipborne hangars. The landing gear provides for safe take-off and landing on rocking ship decks. Corrosion-resistant materials have been used in the construction to ensure normal operation in active sea environments. The helicopter is powered by two Klimov (Isotov) TV3-117BK turboshaft engines each rated 1,620kW and supplied with fuel from an internal weight of 3,680kg carried in 12 tanks.

The helicopter can carry up to 2,000kg of disposable payload including one homing torpedo, one torpedo rocket, ten PLAB 250-120 bombs and two OMAB bombs. It is fitted with a heated torpedo bay, ensuring the reliability of weapons in low-temperature weather conditions. Its weapon may also include the Russian-made SV3 depth bomb with a sonar guidance system to aid target interception.

Avionics systems carried on the Ka-28 include standard communication and navigation equipment, plus a range of offensive and defensive sensors.

Offensive Sensors

• A surveillance radar system with its antenna in an undernose radome.
• The VGS-3 dipping sonar that detects submarines, determines the coordinates of the targets and transfers the data in semi-automatic mode to data transmission equipment.
• Magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) with its sensor in a towed ‘bird’.
• Optronic sensor
• Two externally mounted option boxes of sonar buoys, and an onboard device to detect and guide the helicopter towards sonar buoy radio transmissions.

Defensive Sensors

• Advanced ECM/ESM suite, and IFF (Ka-28 only)

Cabin Systems

• Acoustic data processing system and tactical display system
• Mission computer that carries out automatic control, stabilisation and guidance of the helicopter to the mission areas to attack targets

Specifications

Flight Crew: 2~3 (1 minimum)
Mission Crew: 3
Main Rotor Blades: 3+3
Length (with Main Rotor): 11.30m (12.25m with rotors folded)
Width of Fuselage: 3.8m
Height: 5.4m
Empty Weight: 6,100kg (operational 6,500kg)
Normal Take-Off: 11,000kg
Maximum Take-Off: 12,600kg
Maximum Payload: 4,000kg
Maximum Sling Load: 5,000kg
Maximum Speed: 250km/h
Cruise Speed: 230km/h
Economical Speed: 175km/h
Service Ceiling: 5,000m
Hover Ceiling (out of ground effect): 3,500m
Hover Ceiling (in ground effect): N/A
Range (Standard Fuel): 800km (with auxiliary fuel)
Flight Endurance: 4 hours 30 min

Last update: 2 January 2009