Kamov Ka-27 Helix
Kamov · Soviet Union · first flew 1973 · helicopter
A Soviet twin-turboshaft naval helicopter built around Kamov's signature coaxial contra-rotating rotors, dispensing with a tail rotor to stay compact for shipboard use.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Compact stubby fuselage and short tail boom optimised for shipboard hangars |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin stacked coaxial main rotors counter-rotating on a single mast
- Twin vertical tail fins on a short rear stabiliser, and no tail rotor
- Compact stubby fuselage and short tail boom optimised for shipboard hangars
The two stacked rotors turning in opposite directions are conclusive. Look also for the complete absence of a tail rotor, twin endplate fins on a stubby boom, and the squat barrel-like naval fuselage.
Specifications
- The Kamov Ka-27 Helix has a length of 11.3 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.9 m (52 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 270 km/h (168 mph).
- Typical crew: 3 (pilot, tactical coordinator, sensor operator).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in December 1973 and in Soviet Navy service from 1981, the Ka-27 replaced the earlier Ka-25 in the fleet anti-submarine role. The coaxial layout cancels torque without a tail rotor, shrinking the footprint to fit small ship hangars.
Variants
The family spans the Ka-27 anti-submarine and search-and-rescue versions, the export Ka-28, the Ka-29 assault transport, the Ka-31 radar-picket and the civil Ka-32 utility and firefighting machine.
Where you'll see it
A purely Soviet and Russian Cold War design still flown by Russia, India, China and others; it had no UK service. NATO tracked it as an adversary type, assigning the reporting name Helix.
Related aircraft
- Ka-29
- Ka-32
- Kamov Ka-26
- Ka-50 Chernaya Akula (Black Shark)
- Mi-24D (Hind-D)
- Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King
- Westland Sea King HC.4 Commando
- Aérospatiale AS350 Écureuil
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