The Kamov Ka-27 (NATO reporting name 'Helix') is a military helicopter developed for the Soviet Navy, and currently in service in various countries including Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea (South Korea), and India. Variants include the Ka-29 assault transport, the Ka-28 downgraded export version, and the Ka-32 for civilian use. Design and development[edit] The helicopter was developed for ferrying and anti-submarine warfare. Design work began in 1969 and the first prototype flew in 1973. It was intended to replace the decade-old Kamov Ka-25, and is similar in appearance to its predecessor due to the requirements of fitting in the same hangar space. Like other Kamov military helicopters it has coaxial rotors, removing the need for a tail rotor. Operational history[edit] A Russian Navy Ka-27 helicopter from the Russian Udaloy-class destroyer RS Severomorsk (DDG 619) conducted interoperability deck landing training on board USS Mount Whitney on 22 July 2010.[2] Ka-32A11BC multipurpose helicopters have been successfully operated in Portugal for over five years. In 2006, KAMOV JSC won the tender for the supply of Ka-32A11BC firefighting helicopters, to replace Aérospatiale SA-330 Pumas, which have very high operating costs. The Ka-32A11BC features a high power-to-weight ratio and ease of handling, owing to its coaxial rotor design. The rotors' diameters are not restricted by the presence of a tail rotor and associated tail boom; this facilitates maneuvering near obstacles and helps assure exceptional accuracy when hovering in heavy smoke and dust conditions. The Ka-32A11BC may be equipped with the Bambi Bucket suspended fire-fighting system of up to five tons capacity. The service life has been extended to up to 32 000 flight hours.[3] Since the 1990s, China has purchased the Ka-28 export version and Ka-31 radar warning version for the PLAN fleet. Ka-31 purchases were first revealed in 2010. It is believed that Chinese Ka-28s have been equipped with more enhanced avionics compared to Ka-28s exported to other countries.[4] In 2013, Russia tested the new Kamov Ka-27M with an active electronically scanned array radar. The basis of the modernization of the Ka-27M is installed on the helicopter airborne radar with an active phased array antenna FH-A. This radar is part of the command and tactical radar system that combines several other systems: acoustic, magnetometric, signals intelligence and radar. All the information on them is displayed on the display instrumentation. Ka-32s are used for construction of transmission towers for overhead power lines, as it has somewhat higher lift capacity than the Vertol 107.[5] General characteristics Crew: one-three, plus two-three specialists (Ka-27) Ka-27 orthographical image.svg Capacity: 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) payload (Ka-32), or up to 16 troops (Ka-29). Length: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in) Height: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in) Empty weight: 6,500 kg (14,330 lb) Gross weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb) Max takeoff weight: 12,000 kg (26,455 lb) Powerplant: 2 × Isotov TV3-117V turboshaft engines, 1,660 kW (2,230 hp) each Main rotor diameter: 2× 15.8 m (51 ft 10 in) Main rotor area: 392.2 m2 (4,222 sq ft) 3-bladed contra-rotating rotors Performance Maximum speed: 270 km/h (168 mph; 146 kn) Cruising speed: 205 km/h (127 mph; 111 kn) Range: 980 km (609 mi; 529 nmi) Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,404 ft) Armament Ka-27 1 × torpedoes (AT-1M, VTT-1, UMGT-1 Orlan, APR-2 Yastreb) or 36 RGB-NM & RGB-NM-1 sonobuoys Ka-29TB 1 × mobile forward firing GShG-7.62 machine gun with 1800 rounds, 1 × 30 mm 2A42 cannon with 250 rounds (flexible semi-rigid mount, optional/removable with ammunition carried in cabin) four external hardpoints for bombs, rockets, gunpods, munitions dispensers, special four round missile launchers for the 9K114 Shturm Avionics Radar, MAD or dipping sonar, sonobuoys