Kamov Ka-60 Explained

The Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka (Russian: "[[:ru:Касатка|Касатка]]", ("Killer Whale"^[1]) is a Russian medium twin-turbine military transport helicopter under development by Kamov. It performed its first flight on 24 December 1998.

The civil version is known as Kamov Ka-62.

Design

The Ka-60 has an estimated local military market of 200 units (Army aviation units, Border Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs). The Ka-60 is to be used for aerial reconnaissance, for transporting air-assault forces, radio-electronic jamming, for special-operations missions and for various light-transport missions. Variations for foreign sale are expected. Manufacture is to take place at Ulan-Ude.

The civil version, the Ka-62, can carry up to 15 passengers or of cargo (internally or externally), has a top speed of 167 kn (310 km/h) and a range of 380 nmi (700 km). It features a five-blade main rotor and shrouded tail rotor, and is powered by a pair of Safran Ardiden 3Gs, and later by in-development Klimov VK-1600s.^[2] It has a 30-minute run-dry gearbox by Zoerkler, and can operate on one engine up to 9,500 ft (2,900m).^[3]

Development

The development of the helicopter was long. The program started in 1984, but the first prototype Ka-60-01 flew in December 1998, and the second in 2007.^[4]

A civil version, the Ka-62, was initially proposed when the Ka-60 programme was launched, but no production followed owing to development problems with the Ka-60's Saturn RD-600V 1500 hp engines. Instead, an agreement was signed in April 2011 to use the 1306kW Turbomeca Ardiden 3G turboshaft for a revised Ka-62. The main rotor will be driven via a new transmission, while the helicopter will have a revised cabin with larger windows and new avionics. First flight of the Ka-62 was planned for May 2013, with certification in 2014. Four prototypes and an initial batch of 16 Ka-62s for the Russian Ministry of Defence were planned,^[5] with another 12 ordered by South American civilian customers. Russian certification was expected in 2018, with European EASA certification following in 2020.^[6]

The Ka-62 was unveiled in 2012 and flight tests began in 2017.^[2] After 434 test flights with three prototypes during 700h, it was certified on 30 November 2021 by Russian regulator Rosaviatsia.^[2] Deliveries should begin in 2022, planned production is six units in 2022, eight in 2023 and 10 in 2024.^[2] A cargo hook, a winch, a medical module and an anti-icing system should be certified until 2024.^[2]

The development and certification of the Ka-62 was stopped in late 2022 due to Western sanctions and the large number of foreign-made components (including the French-manufactured engine).^[7]

Variants

Ka-60: Basic multi-role model.

Ka-60U: Training version.

Ka-60K: Naval version.

Ka-60R: Reconnaissance version.

Ka-62: New version for the civilian market. It has a redesigned fuselage with a high degree of composites, a larger cabin than the earlier demonstrators and will be equipped with Turbomeca Ardiden 3G engines.^[8]

Ka-64 Sky Horse: Western certified export version equipped with two General Electric T700/CT7 turboshaft engines and five-blade main rotor.

Operators

• Russian Aerospace Forces (100 on order)^{[9] [10]}

• Atlas Taxi Aereo (7 on order)^[11]

• Vertical de Aviación (5 on order)^[12]

Sources

• Butowski, Piotr. "Russia's Restyled Helicopter". Air International, September 2012, Vol. 82 No. 3. pp. 66–67. .
• Butowski, Piotr. Rosyjskie śmigłowce: kryzys nie mija. Helirussia, Moskwa, 25–27 maja 2017 r., "Lotnictwo Aviation International" Nr. 7/2017, p. 44–45
• Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. .
• Mladenov, Alexander. "Kamov's Six Tonne Twin". Air International, January 2014, Vol.86, No. 1. pp. 74–75. .
• Maldenov, Alexander. "Ka-62". Air International, June 2016, Vol. 90, No. 6. pp. 6–7. .
• "Nezavisimaya Gazeta", No.241 (1812), 25 December 1998. translation

External links

• Kamov Ka-60

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20101107181719/http://www.kamov.ru/en/production/ka60/ Kamov Ka-60 archived webpage
2. News: Ka-62 helicopter gains Russian certification . Dominic Perry . 1 December 2021 . Flightglobal.
3. Mladenov Air International January 2014, p. 74.
4. Butowski, Piotr. Rosyjskie śmigłowce: kryzys nie mija. Helirussia, Moskwa, 25–27 maja 2017 r., "Lotnictwo Aviation International" Nr. 7/2017, p. 36-37
5. Butowski Air International September 2012, pp. 66–67.
6. Mladneov Air International June 2016, pp. 6–7.
7. Web site: 2022-11-11 . Russia puts Ka-62, its newest civilian helicopter project, on ice - AeroTime . 2024-05-21 . en-US.
8. Web site: Russian Helicopters. 31 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160312231518/http://www.russianhelicopters.aero/en/helicopters/civil/ka-62/features.html. 12 March 2016. live. dmy-all.
9. http://warfare.be/?lang=&catid=260&linkid=1633 Kamov Ka-60
10. Web site: World Air Forces 2013 . flightglobal.com . 10 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121216005935/http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/emptys/101015/world-air-forces-2013.pdf . 16 December 2012 . live . dmy-all .
11. Web site: Brazil's Atlas Taxi Aereo becomes first export customer for the Ka-62. Flightglobal. 2012-12-19. 22 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130319071323/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/brazils-atlas-taxi-aereo-becomes-first-export-customer-for-the-ka-62-380291/. 19 March 2013. live. dmy-all.
12. Web site: MAKS: Russian Helicopters grows backlog for Kamov Ka-62. Flightglobal. 2013-08-29. 2013-08-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052602/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/maks-russian-helicopters-grows-backlog-for-kamov-ka-62-389921/. 2014-08-08. live.