MOSCOW. Aug 10 (Interfax) - The upgraded Kamov Ka-52M Alligator helicopter has made its first flight, the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry said.
"The state-of-the-art upgraded Ka-52 helicopter has made its first flight at the Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company of the Russian Helicopters holding (part of Rostec). The helicopter will incorporate all best solutions earlier tested on helicopters produced both under state defense contracts and for export," the ministry's press service said in a statement on Monday.
Ka-52M "is more advanced and reliable combat equipment," whose production became possible thanks to a large-scale relocation and technical upgrade of the Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said.
"Ka-52M's missiles are unified with weapons of another state-of-the-art helicopter, Mil Mi-28NM, which allowed to considerably increase the target range," the press service quoted of the Russian Helicopters General Director Andrey Boginsky as saying.
The research and development project to upgrade Ka-52 took into account its combat use, which allowed to build "a new helicopter with enhanced characteristics and of broader combat use," he said.
The Ka-52M will get an upgraded electro-optical allowing to detect and identify targets at longer distances and a new digital drive with better cannon's sighting accuracy, the statement said. The helicopter will also get a radar with active phased array and a longer-range guided missile, it said.