A new sighting system will boost the combat potential of the Ka-52M attack helicopter and enable it to effectively use weapons at night, a source in the domestic defense industry told TASS on Friday.

"The Ka-52M helicopter’s combat efficiency will be substantially enhanced through an upgraded sighing system that will boost its capabilities of employing armaments at night. The range of the upgraded sight’s target detection and identification thermal imaging channel has been doubled," the source said.

The improvements were prompted by the experience of employing the Ka-52 helicopter in Syria where the gunships mostly operated at night, he added.

During their operation in the Syrian Arab Republic, Ka-52 assault helicopters employed Vikhr anti-tank missiles with a maximum striking range of 8 km. The helicopter’s upgrade will make it possible to use new guided munitions, the source said

"Work is underway to install a Safar radio station and extend the range of Vikhr missiles to 10 km," he added.

TASS has no official confirmation of this information yet.

A TASS source said on September 2 that the modernized Ka-52M attack helicopter was tested during the special military operation in Ukraine. The source also earlier said that the state trials of the upgraded combat helicopter were set to be concluded in October 2022.