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The Russian Air Force Has Reportedly Lost 23 Of Its Highly Advanced Attack Helicopters In Ukraine

An intelligence report published by the Ministry of Defense of the U.K. has stated that Russian forces have at least 23 of its Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters. These make up about 25 percent of its fleet of attack helicopters.

During the invasion of Ukraine, Russia used up a lot of its resources, including Ka-52 attack helicopters, reportedly in service before the conflict started. One-fourth of the fleet has been lost along with other rotorcraft like transport helicopters, Mi-24 and Mi-35 Hind and Mi-28 Havoc attack helicopters.

The Kamov Ka-52 is a two-seat armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter, where the pilots, side-by-side, are a rarity in attack helicopters. Today, it is deemed by military experts as one of the most dangerous attack helicopters in the world.

The helicopter uses a co-axial rotor, which renders the need for a counter tail rotor unit useless, much like the Defiant X, to be used by the U.S. Air Force. It is executed by Klimov VK-2500 series turboshaft engines. The helicopter can function in both hot and cold areas and has a top speed of 186 miles (300 km) an hour.

The vehicle is made for night operations, and it has a terrain-following radar and Forward-Looking InfraRed (FLIR) camera mounted under the rotorcraft. The pilots are facilitated with night vision helmets with built-in laser range finders.

The attack helicopter also has an advanced avionics suite and self-defense measures like large exhaust diffusers and flare dispensers on the wing tips. The pilots also have shock-absorbing ejection seats on this rotorcraft. Before the conflict started, Russia had 90 of them.

This shortage of military equipment means that Russia cannot have air cover for front-line operations, and its artillery is reportedly running low.

Russian commanders are, therefore, more likely to engage the rotorcraft in more high-risk operations when they have already seen over eight months of combat. More loss of machines is expected as the conflict advances.

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