The Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka (
Russian: "
Касатка", ("Killer Whale"[3]) 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, the 6.8 t (15,000 lb) Ka-62, can carry up to 15 passengers or 2–2.5 t (4,400–5,500 lb) of cargo (internally or externally), has a top speed of 167 kn (310 km/h) and a range of 380 nmi (700 km).[4] 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.[4] It has a 30-minute run-dry gearbox by
Zoerkler, and can operate on one engine up to 9,500 ft (2,900m).[5]
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.[6]
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 1,306 kW (1,751 hp)
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,[7] with another 12 ordered by South American civilian customers. Russian certification was expected in 2018, with European
EASA certification following in 2020.[8]
The Ka-62 was unveiled in 2012 and flight tests began in 2017.[4] After 434 test flights with three prototypes during 700h, it was certified on 30 November 2021 by Russian regulator Rosaviatsia.[4] Deliveries should begin in 2022, planned production is six units in 2022, eight in 2023 and 10 in 2024.[4] A cargo hook, a winch, a medical module and an anti-icing system should be certified until 2024.[4]
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.[9]
^Butowski, Piotr. Rosyjskie śmigłowce: kryzys nie mija. Helirussia, Moskwa, 25–27 maja 2017 r., "Lotnictwo Aviation International" Nr. 7/2017, p. 36-37 (in Polish)
^Butowski Air International September 2012, pp. 66–67.
Butowski, Piotr. "Russia's Restyled Helicopter". Air International, September 2012, Vol. 82 No. 3. pp. 66–67.
ISSN0306-5634.
Butowski, Piotr. Rosyjskie śmigłowce: kryzys nie mija. Helirussia, Moskwa, 25–27 maja 2017 r., "Lotnictwo Aviation International" Nr. 7/2017, p. 44–45 (in Polish)
Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003.
ISBN0-7106-2537-5.
Mladenov, Alexander. "Kamov's Six Tonne Twin". Air International, January 2014, Vol.86, No. 1. pp. 74–75.
ISSN0306-5634.
Maldenov, Alexander. "Ka-62". Air International, June 2016, Vol. 90, No. 6. pp. 6–7.
ISSN0306-5634.
"Nezavisimaya Gazeta", No.241 (1812), 25 December 1998.
translation
The initial version of this article was based on material from
aviation.ru. It has been released under the
GFDL by the copyright holder.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Kamov Ka-60.