Drone Detecting Radars Equip Helicopters

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The navalised variant of the the Kamov Ka-52 Alligator (Hokum-B) attack/reconnaissance helicopter – the Ka-52K Katran – will be equipped with a compact active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the Russian navy.

The radar is capable of detecting low-altitude aerial targets such as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), providing data to cue onboard electro-optical devices and corresponding weapons to these targets.

The radar will be supplied by the Russian defense contractor Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET), according to IHS Jane’s.

KRET claims that its AESA radar will be able to operate in the millimetric wavelength for effective ground target acquisition as well as the centimetric spectrum to enable large naval targets to be detected at a range of 180 km.

Flight safety is enhanced with ground moving target indication and tracking modes, which assists the crew in coping with low visibility conditions such as fog, dust and night-time operations. The radar also detects ground obstacles including transmission towers and power lines.

The helicopter was developed to sink amphibious landing ships as well as the transports of enemy strike groups and convoys with its ability to employ anti-ship cruise missiles such as the high-speed Kh-31AD.

There are now plans to add the helicopters already constructed to the air wing of the Project 11435 Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier.