Kamov Ka-31 - Design and Development

Design and Development

The Kamov Joint Stock Company (then, Kamov DB), began development of the Ka-31 medium-weight naval helicopter in 1980 and the first flight took place in 1987. This development was the direct result of the cancellation of the shipborne Antonov An-71 AWACS aircraft. The An-71 was intended to be deployed on the Soviet Navy's first true aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov (then known as Tbilsi). The An-71 was cancelled in favour of the Yakovlev Yak-44. Though Yak-44 was in development (and not yet cancelled) at that time, the Soviet Navy wanted a stop-gap measure and began investigating other viable platforms to act as an AEW, on sea.

With the wealth of knowledge in operating shipborne helicopter operations, the Soviet Navy selected the tested and reliable Kamov Ka-27 airframe. The Kamov Design Bureau was already in the process of developing the Ka-29. Nizhny Novgorod Radio Engineering Institute was working on a Radar Design to be used on the An-71, the same design (with suitable changes). So they were all mated in 1980 and the design was known as Ka-29RLD. The radar development took time, and it was not until 1987, did the first flight took place. The production version of the Ka-29RLD/-31 was very different from the Ka-29 from which it was derived.

Some of the distinct features of the Kamov Ka-31 are:

• The removal of the bulky electro-optical sensory suite, beneath the cockpit.
• The cockpit is wider than the KA-27/29, with 2 additional MFDs.
• The ASW capability is not installed.
• The addition of Kronstadt Kabris 12-channel global positioning system.
• The powerplant is a more powerful Klimov TV3-117VMAR x 2. (the Ka-27 uses TV3-117BK)
• The TA-8Ka APU is added to provide power for the RADAR and C4ISR
• 16-channel digital communication gear with range up to 250 miles (400 km).