Kamov Ka-25 "Hormone"
Kamov · Soviet Union · first flew 1961 · helicopter
The Kamov Ka-25 (NATO: Hormone) was the Soviet Navy's primary shipborne anti-submarine warfare helicopter from the 1960s through the 1980s, distinguished by its coaxial rotor system that eliminated the need for a tail rotor.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet naval ASW helicopter with coaxial contra-rotating rotors
- Compact design without tail rotor — twin coaxial rotor heads
- Quadricycle fixed undercarriage with folding rotor blades for carrier stowage
Compact helicopter with two contra-rotating three-blade rotors on a single shaft, no tail rotor, four fixed undercarriage legs, twin turboshafts side-by-side above the cabin, and a slab-sided box fuselage.
Specifications
- The Kamov Ka-25 has a length of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.74 m (52 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
- Typical crew: 2–3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1961 and entering service in 1965, the Ka-25 equipped Soviet cruisers, destroyers, and the Kiev-class carriers. The coaxial design kept the helicopter compact enough for small ship decks. It remained in service until gradually replaced by the Ka-27 in the 1980s.
Variants
Ka-25PL anti-submarine; Ka-25PS search-and-rescue; Ka-25Ts target designation variant; all share the same basic airframe.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Soviet and later Russian Navy; small numbers operated by Syria, India, Vietnam, and Yugoslavia; the Ka-27 is its direct replacement.
Related aircraft
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