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Russia Russian Helicopters
Ka-27
A twin-turbine ship-based helicopter using Kamov's signature coaxial contra-rotating rotors for a compact shipboard footprint. Serves the Russian Navy in anti-submarine warfare and search-and-rescue variants from frigates and destroyers.
In service since 1982 · 6 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
270
km/h
800
km range
5,000
m ceiling
800
kg payload
Pricing: No public modern unit cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Established · 6 operators
In service since 1982. Status: active · ~267 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Ka-27 can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 270 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 220 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 800 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 5,000 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 800 kg |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 12.25 m |
|---|---|
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 5.4 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 6,100 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 12,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x Klimov TV3-117V turboshafts |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 2,225 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboshaft |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | Osminog search radar, dipping sonar |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 267 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 6 |
Specifications compiled from public Russian Helicopters and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Russian Helicopters Ka-27? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-27 has a maximum speed of 270 km/h.
What is the range of the Russian Helicopters Ka-27? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-27 has a maximum range of 800 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Russian Helicopters Ka-27? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-27 can carry up to 800 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Russian Helicopters Ka-27 weigh? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-27 has a combat weight of 12,000 kg.
How many crew does the Russian Helicopters Ka-27 require? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-27 requires a crew of 3.
What engine does the Russian Helicopters Ka-27 use? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-27 is powered by the 2x Klimov TV3-117V turboshafts.
What is the Russian Helicopters Ka-27 used for? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-27 is a helicopter typically used for isr.
How many countries operate the Russian Helicopters Ka-27? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-27 is operated by 6 countries.
How much does the Russian Helicopters Ka-27 cost? +
Russian Helicopters Ka-27: No public modern unit cost. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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