Kamov Ka-60

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The Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka (Template:Langx, "Killer Whale"<ref>Kamov Ka-60 archived webpage</ref>) 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.

DesignEdit

The Ka-60 has an estimated local military market of 200 units (Army aviation units, Border Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs).Template:Citation needed 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 Template:Cvt Ka-62, can carry up to 15 passengers or Template:Cvt of cargo (internally or externally), has a top speed of Template:Convert and a range of Template:Convert.<ref name=Flight1dec2021/> 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.<ref name=Flight1dec2021>Template:Cite news</ref> It has a 30-minute run-dry gearbox by Zoerkler, and can operate on one engine up to Template:Convert.<ref>Mladenov Air International January 2014, p. 74.</ref>

DevelopmentEdit

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.<ref name=butowski2017>Butowski, Piotr. Rosyjskie śmigłowce: kryzys nie mija. Helirussia, Moskwa, 25–27 maja 2017 r., "Lotnictwo Aviation International" Nr. 7/2017, p. 36-37 Template:In lang</ref>

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 Template:Convert 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,<ref name="restyle">Butowski Air International September 2012, pp. 66–67.</ref> with another 12 ordered by South American civilian customers. Russian certification was expected in 2018, with European EASA certification following in 2020.<ref name="AI616 p6-7">Mladneov Air International June 2016, pp. 6–7.</ref>

The Ka-62 was unveiled in 2012 and flight tests began in 2017.<ref name=Flight1dec2021/> After 434 test flights with three prototypes during 700h, it was certified on 30 November 2021 by Russian regulator Rosaviatsia.<ref name=Flight1dec2021/> Deliveries should begin in 2022, planned production is six units in 2022, eight in 2023 and 10 in 2024.<ref name=Flight1dec2021/> A cargo hook, a winch, a medical module and an anti-icing system should be certified until 2024.<ref name=Flight1dec2021/>

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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> About 60% of the Ka-62's parts had been sourced from Western suppliers, and could no longer be imported.<ref name="IDEX1">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2023, a spokesman for the manufacturer confirmed that design work on the helicopter type was ongoing, including a possible effort to substitute Russian-made parts for the Western parts no longer available.<ref name="IDEX1"/>

VariantsEdit

File:MAKS Airshow 2013 (Ramenskoye Airport, Russia) (cropped) copy.jpg

Ka-62 glass cockpit

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.<ref name="Russian Helicopters">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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

OperatorsEdit

File:MAKS Airshow 2013 (Ramenskoye Airport, Russia) (519-10).jpg

Ka-62 serial configuration prototype

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Russian Aerospace Forces (100 on order)<ref>Kamov Ka-60, warfare.ru, Russian Military Analisis. Retrieved on September 8, 2008.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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