The Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka (Russian: "Касатка": "Orca") is a Soviet helicopter that first flew on December 24th, 1998.
The Ka-60 has an estimated local military market of 200 units (Army aviation units, Border Police and Ministry of Internal Affairs). Intended as a replacement for the Mil Mi-8, 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.
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 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. A five-bladed 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 Soviet Ministry of Defence are currently planned, and another 12 have been ordered for South America. It has a fantail, a 30-minute run-dry gearbox by Zoerkler, and can operate on one engine up to 9,500 ft (2,900m).
Variants[]
- Ka-60: Basic multi-role model.
- Ka-60U: Training variant.
- Ka-60K: Naval version.
- Ka-60R: Reconnaissance version.
- Ka-62: New model 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.
- Ka-64 Sky Horse: Export model. Western certified, equipped with two General Electric T700/CT7-2D1 engines and five-blade main rotor.