Phazotron-NIIR Corporation is developing helicopter on-board radar with phased array for naval version of Ka-52, VPK reports.

The necessity of creation of naval strike helicopter is connected with contract between Russia and France on construction of four Mistral helicopter carriers for Russian navy. In accordance with the contract signed in June, the first ship should be delivered in 2014 and the second one – in 2015.

Russian military intend to deploy a mixed wing on the ships, including Ka-52K strike helicopters and Ka-29 transport helicopters. Although aviation group of Mistral carriers includes 16 helicopters, military would like to have a reserve wing on each ship.

Ka-29 has been designed for naval operations Ка-29, while Ka-52 is a strike land helicopter intended for special operations. It must be adopted for naval operation, thus, its construction will require some modifications. According to CEO of Russian Helicopters, Dmitry Petrov, development of Ka-52K has already been started, although the military have not defined the specifications for the vehicle yet. The first prototype of Ка-52К should be completed by 2014.

The naval version of Ка-52 requires long range of acquisition and capability of using anti-ship missiles of Х-31 and Х-35 type. The acquisition range may be increased by about 200 km even with the smaller dimensions of antenna array by changing a frequency band of on-board radar. Mass is a very important parameter for on-board radar. Serial on-board radar “Zhuk-AE” weighs 275 kg, however, the mass of helicopter version of the radar must not exceed 80 kg. By implementing innovations in production of transmit-receive modules the width of the matrix may be decreased from 170 tо 50 mm. The dimensions of phased antenna array may be within the range of 600х400 mm.

The Corporation intends to install the first prototype of on-board radar with phased antenna array on Ka-52 in 2012.