Documents
Russia Legacy Russian Helicopters
Ka-50 Black Shark
A single-seat Russian attack helicopter notable for its coaxial contra-rotating rotors, which remove the need for a tail rotor, and for being the only production attack helicopter fitted with an ejection seat. Its single-pilot design and high agility made it a testbed for the technology later adapted into the twin-seat Ka-52.
In service since 1995 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
310
km/h
470
km range
5,500
m ceiling
2,000
kg payload
Pricing: Unit cost not consistently publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 1995. Status: legacy · ~15 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-50 Black Shark 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. | 310 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 260 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 470 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 5,500 m |
| Rate of climb How fast the aircraft gains altitude. Higher means better energy recovery in combat. | 10 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 30 mm 2A42 autocannon |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 4 |
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 2,000 kg |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | Armored cockpit tub with K-37-800 zero-zero ejection seat |
|---|---|
| Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers. | chaff, flares, exhaust IR suppressors |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 13.5 m |
|---|---|
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 4.93 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 7,700 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 9,800 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x Klimov VK-2500/TV3-117VMA turboshaft, 2200 hp each |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 2,200 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. | Shkval-V electro-optical sighting system, helmet-mounted display |
|---|---|
| Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations. | Yes |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 15 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public Russian Helicopters and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark has a maximum speed of 310 km/h.
What is the range of the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark has a maximum range of 470 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark can carry up to 2,000 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark weigh? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark has a combat weight of 9,800 kg.
How many crew does the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark require? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark's primary weapon is the 30 mm 2A42 autocannon.
What engine does the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark use? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark is powered by the 2x Klimov VK-2500/TV3-117VMA turboshaft, 2200 hp each.
What is the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark used for? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark is a helicopter typically used for close air support, anti armor.
How many countries operate the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark? +
The Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark cost? +
Russian Helicopters Ka-50 Black Shark: Unit cost not consistently publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
Similar systems
Russian Helicopters
Mi-35M
Russian Helicopters
Mi-24P
Russian Helicopters
Ka-52 Alligator
Russian Helicopters