User Guide

COMANCHE VERSUS HOKUM

evade fire while attacking. Mechanics are battle-hardened, systems have been proved

against rounds up to 23mm, the power-plant can run for 30 minutes without oil, this gives

the pilot an opportunity to land in a safe location in the event the oil system is damaged.

The Alligator is a high-performance all-weather, day and night attack helicopter. The primary

mission role being similar to the Comanche - battlefield reconnaissance and strike co-

ordination. To achieve this, there is an impressive avionic and sensor fit.

First is the FH-01 Arbalat (Crossbow) centimetric and millimetric wavelength radar made by

Phazotron. The centimetric antenna of the Crossbow has a 360-degree search capability

and mounted in a small 2-foot diameter dome on top of the rotor mast. This provides the

Ka-52’s air search and track capability. The larger millimetric wave antenna mounted in the

nose of the helicopter is used to detect ground objects (such as vehicles) and provide

information for 3D terrain mapping avionics. Little is known about the search parameters of

the Crossbow, estimates place it’s ground search and track capability in excess of 11km.

The helicopters electro-optical package consists of a number of systems. Like the American

AH-64 and RAH-66 combat helicopters, there are two discreet night vision sensors, one for

the pilot and another for weapon sighting. A sensor ball positioned on the roof between the

cockpit and the rotor mast houses the Samshit (Boxwood) STS gyro-stabilized

reconnaissance & sighting unit. The Samshit incorporates a FLIR imager (PNVS), which

feeds the pilots’ helmet-mounted display. Located under the fuselage is a small

hemispherical fairing which houses the weapon operators’ periscope: its rotation and

elevation is aligned with the Samshit pod. Laser designation and LLLTV (Low Light Level

Television) weapon guidance is achieved using a standard Shkval-V turret; this flat

windowed chin mounted housing is used for employing most of the Ka-52’s beam riding

weapons such as the supersonic Vikhr (Whirlwind). The accuracy of the target guidance

system is so great, it is said you can choose which "wheel" to hit on targets as far as 8 to

10km away. Because of this accuracy the Vikhr can be used against air-to-ground or air-to-

air targets, the missile adjusts its profile accordingly.

The "Glass Cockpit" is a new feature in Kamov helicopters, four French made multi-function

color displays provide most of the instrumentation and systems management required for

flight operations. An advanced EWS (Electronic Warfare Suite) provides early warning and

countermeasures; basic components are the RWR (Radar Warning Receiver), Missile

Warning System (MWS), Laser Warning Receiver (LWR) and chaff / flare launchers. The

EWS displays threat information on a moving map display allowing the crew to relate threat

bearing and distance to their immediate surroundings. Together with information from the

radar and electro-optical sensors, this target data is automatically exchanged via a digital

communications system to other force elements.

Navigation utilizes a combination of Inertial Guidance (laser gyroscopes and

accelerometers) and GPS signals from both GLOSNASS and NAVSTAR satellites. This

positional information is fed to an electronic moving map display that can be called up on

one of the MFDs and also transmitted digitally to a ground command centre. Radio outfitting

is made up of three VHF transceivers; one for monitoring the "guard" channel, one for

secure communications and another for communicating with other mission specific force

elements.