KLAB
Posts: 355
Joined: 2/27/2007 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Tookatee Oh and one more that I found, all variants of the KA-50 and KA-52 are missing the ability to load: Igla-1V pods (two [four total Igla missiles], one dual pod per wing, under the countermeasures pod on each wing), R-73's (four, one per pylon), the UPK-23-250 gunpods (four, two per wing), 500 liter external fuel tanks (four, two per wing), Ataka ATGMs (12, with six per wing), and KH-25's (four, one per pylon). Source: Wikipedia for the KA-50/KA-52. All variants of the Mi-28 also share the same missing loadouts, with the exception of: the Igla pods total to a maximum of four (two dual pods per wing for a total of eight Igla missiles) rather than just two and the Ataka ATGMs as it already has those as its only ATGM loadout right now. Source: Wikipedia for the Mi-28. It's a personal opinion, but I cannot see much evidence for any of the Igla , R-73 or KH-25 load outs actually being in service operationally, Photos of the Igla-1V all appear to be with display aircraft at MAKS or other similar defence shows etc Although it was part of the test program and requested by the RuAF as part of the design specification. 4 x Kh-25 loads and R-73 may have been tested but I cannot find any evidence that there are operational aircraft using them, not to mention the weight implications? (Kh-35 on the Ka-52K seems optimistic weight wise too, but that's another issue?) Weapons that are in use are the gun pods and combinations of OFAB-/FAB- M54 250kg and 500kg dumb bombs, as are the long range fuel tanks. Also the KA-50/52 Mi-28N can use: KMGU-2 dispenser pods x 2 S8 80mm rockets 4 x 20 round pods. S13 122mm rockets 4 x 5 round pods. The retirement of the S5 57mm rocket has been mentioned before but seems to always get overlooked in DB updates so even the latest Russian aircraft are given 57mm RP's. Regarding ATGM's: I requested previously that the ATGM loads are amended for the KA-50/52 and Mi-24/35M to reflect the fact that the 9M120-1 laser command guided Ataka AT-9 Spiral II variant is in use in 12 packs on the KA-52 (not the Vikhr-M until post 2015/16) and 16 Ataka's (not 4) on the Mi-24/35M . There is an extensive back story to the Vikhr/Vikhr M missile and its interrupted development which means it went into very limited service with KA-50's in the Chechen campaign, came out of service then came back into service again when an order was finally funded in 2015. Also the bulk of Mi-24/Mi-8 Mi-28 and Ka-52 deployed to Syria have been fitted with Vitebsk self defence suites, and there are photos to prove it, see previous posts for the photos. GATOR ON THE RISE by Alexander Mladenov ISBN 978-1-911096-45-0 PP146-149 specifically cover the Ka-52 armament. Thanks for consideration, KL
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