Russia’s ‘Best Helicopter Gunship,’ the Ka-52 Alligator, Marks 40th Loss

• Russia has suffered a loss of 40 top-notch attack helicopters, specifically the Kamov Ka-52 Alligator.
• The Alligator is proudly touted by the Kremlin as the “world’s best helicopter gunship.”
• Russia’s total confirmed helicopter losses now stand at 101.

According to Oryx, an independent monitoring group, that relies solely on confirmed combat losses from open sources, Russia has lost 40 Kamov Ka-52 Alligator helicopters.

The Kyiv Post reports that despite the Kremlin’s claims, these escalating losses indicate the failure of the Alligator as the “world’s best helicopter gunship.”

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed that Kyiv’s forces successfully took down the 40th Alligator helicopter near Robotyne on Monday, August 7.

This brings the total number of confirmed helicopter losses to 101. According to Oryx, 88 helicopters were destroyed, 12 were damaged, and one was captured.

Ukraine claims to have destroyed over 300 Russian helicopters.

A significant threat to Ukraine’s ground forces

photographyw.com

The Ka-52 Alligator’s advanced features such as a 30mm cannon, anti-tank missiles, counter-rotating rotors, and “smart” targeting systems have significantly disrupted Ukraine’s ground forces and hindered the progress of their summer counteroffensive.

In June, Ryan Pickrell from Insider highlighted that the Ka-52 Alligator poses a significant threat to Ukraine’s ground forces. It must be swiftly engaged with air-defense missiles to safeguard heavy armor such as tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.