Aviation / Aerospace

Kamov Ka-32 (Helix)

Multirole Coaxial Utility Helicopter [ 1990 ]

The Kamov Ka-32 is a civilian-minded form of the military-centric Ka-27 Helix coaxial helicopter originating in the Soviet Union.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/07/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The Ka-32 is the civilian market version of the military-minded Ka-27 ("Helix") multirole helicopter series produced by Kamov of Russia (formerly the Soviet Union). The type retains the key qualities of the original include its coaxial main rotor installation which sees one main rotor set atop the other, cancelling out naturally occurring torque and negating the use of a tail rotor component in the design. Like the versatile Ka-27 in service with the Russian Navy and others, the Ka-32 has a slew of variants all its own to cover various civilian market roles and requirements.

Externally the aircraft carries on much of the design lines of of the original Ka-27. It seats its piloting crew in the familiar side-by-side arrangement, has sliding doors for cabin access, and fixed, four-point wheeled undercarriage. The main rotors sit atop the stout fuselage and a twin-rudder-fin tail unit is featured along a shortened tail stem. Klimov turboshaft engines power the line and this pairing is used to drive the twin three-bladed main rotors in contra-rotating fashion.

Variants in the line include the initial Ka-32A production model for civil transport. The Ka-31A1 was developed into a fire-fighting platform complete with bucket. The Ka-32A2 is a law enforcement model that carries a pair of searchlights as well as a speaker system. The Ka-32A4 has been evolved along the lines of Search and Rescue (SAR) and MEDEVAC (MEDical EVACuation). The Ka-32A7 is an armed version of the Ka-27PS production model while the Ka-31A11BC is an export-minded variant powered by 2 x Klimov TV3-117MA engines and features a digital glass cockpit. Similarly, the Ka-32A12 is a foreign type. The Ka-32M is a proposed modernized variant featuring the TV3-117VMA-SB3 engine and the Ka-32S (?Helix-C?) an overwater / maritime performer for the SAR role but also features a sonar unit at the nose.

The Ka-32T (also "Helix-C") is a utility model that can carry up to sixteen passengers. The Ka-32K is a specially-modified flying crane model with gondola operating station.

A modernized Ka-32, designation the Ka-32A11M, is set to debut at MAKS 2021. This version will feature an all-new glass cockpit, updated avionics, and uprated Klimov VK-2500PS-02 turboshaft engines while sporting a new fire suppression system.©MilitaryFactory.com

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May 2021 - Work is proceeding on the modernized Ka-32 to be designated Ka-32A11M. An example is scheduled to appear at MAKS in July 2021.

February 2022 - The Portuguese Air Force has integrated the Ka-32 into its active fleet.

Specifications

Service Year

1990

Origin

Soviet Union / Russia

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

3

Production

175
UNITS

Kamov Helicopters - Soviet Union / Russia

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

Azerbaijan; Canada; Germany; Myanmar; Papua New Guinea; Portugal; Russia; South Korea; Soviet Union; Switzerland; Taiwan

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.

✓ Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).

✓ Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.

✓ Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.

✓ VIP Service
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.

VERTICAL TAKE-OFF / LANDING (VTOL)

Series has a tactical capability to take-off and / or land vertically, a quality commonly associated with helicopters.

RADAR-CAPABLE

Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.

MULTI-ENGINE

Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.

CO-AXIAL MAIN ROTORS

Dual main rotors arranged in co-axial mounting, negating traditional torque-neutralizing tail rotor unit.

RUGGED AIRFRAME

Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.

EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE

Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.

MARITIME OPERATION

Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.

CREW-MANAGED

Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.

ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)

Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.

ENHANCED ACCESS

Design incorporates feature(s) that facilitates loading / unloading of cargo / personnel from the aircraft.

Length

37.1 ft
(11.30 m)

Width/Span

52.2 ft
(15.90 m)

Height

18.0 ft
(5.50 m)

Empty Wgt

14,573 lb
(6,610 kg)

MTOW

24,251 lb
(11,000 kg)

Wgt Diff

+9,678 lb
(+4,390 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Kamov Ka-32A production variant)

Installed: 2 x Klimov TV3-117MA turboshaft engines developing 2,200 horsepower each driving a coaxial 2 x Three-bladed main rotor arrangement.

Max Speed

162 mph
(260 kph | 140 kts)

Ceiling

19,685 ft
(6,000 m | 4 mi)

Range

705 mi
(1,135 km | 2,102 nm)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Kamov Ka-32A production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None. Internal space for up to 16 passengers or equivalent in cargo.

Supported Types

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Ka-32 - Base Series Designation.

Ka-32A - Initial production model.

Ka-32A1 - Fire-fighting variant with water bucket.

Ka-32A2 - Law enforcement model; twin searchlight and loudspeaker fitted.

Ka-32A4 - Search and Rescue (SAR) / MEDEVAC variant.

Ka-32A7 - Armed variant based in the Ka-27PS.

Ka-32A11M - Modernized Ka-32; model of 2021.

Ka-32A11BC - European, Chinese, and Canadian airspace market export model; TV3-117MA turboshaft engines; digital glass cockpit.

Ka-32A12 - Switzerland airspace variant.

Ka-32C - Customized variant.

Ka-32M - Proposed model with TV3-117VMA-SB3 turboshaft engines.

Ka-32-10 - Project.

Ka-32S (Helix-C) - Maritime utility model; radar fitted to nose section.

Ka-32T (Helix-C) - Utility transport variant; seating for 16 passengers.

Ka-32K - Flying crane modification for special missions; operator pilot in gondola section.

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