Russian Pilots Seen in Video Ejecting Out of Ka-52 Gunship Via the First Ever Helicopter Ejection Mechanism
(Photo : LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Russian pilots ejecting from a Ka-52 gunship, as seen in a video, proves the helicopter ejection mechanism system successful.
  • A viral video shows how Russian-made ejection mechanisms for the Ka-52 Alligator aircraft successfully work.
  • Russian pilots eject from a Ka-52 helicopter seen in recent footage.
  • World's first helicopter ejection mechanism revealed in a March 20 viral video.

A video shows two Russian pilots ejecting from a downed Ka-52 gunship that emitted smoke after they got out of the wreckage. The video was first seen on March 20 with smoke from the helicopter, but before the actual seat ejected, it got cut off, as posted on Twitter.

Russian Pilots Ejects from a Ka-52 Gunship

The status of the pilots is unknown, and the video's time and location are not known. AFU has air defense hardware that has downed Russian aircraft, which has strayed too close. Crews of the gunship are used for fire support in taking out AFU armor that makes them targets for anti-aircraft defenses, reported Eurasian Times. 

The Alligator gunship was shown in an earlier viral video attacking the Ukrainians at Ugledar. It took out heavy armor and military vehicles of the AFU, which were getting scarce. No matter how good the platforms are, MANPADS has attacked them. A single Ka-52 Alligator gunship costs $15 million, but getting shot down by a cheaper MANPAD is not optimal for the VKS, cites Airforce Technology.

In Ukraine, the Alligator saw action as the most used aircraft for ground attack as its main function. Entering service saw it as the top assault choppers in the world.

It is often compared to the AH-64 Apache as a better system with a longer stand-off range than US AGMS currently installed. Technology on the Alligator is improved and outperforms the Mi-24/35 Hind, and MiG-28 Havoc, with better sensors and precision missiles, per USAACS.

Read Also: Ukrainian Ground Forces Strikes Down Russian Ka-52 Alligator Attack Helicopters

MANPADS would shoot down these advanced helicopters before the VKS got more electronic suppression systems into service in Ukraine.

Ka-52 Alligator Gunship General Capabilities

Alligator has a top speed of 186 mph and a top altitude of 18,000 feet, with side-by-side seating in the cockpit. One of its best features is the ejection seats as a world first, armed with a 30mm auto-cannon on the right side of the airframe, with a few variants having a nose-mounted FLIR camera module.

The chopper is well adapted for mountain terrain, water, and even strong wind, built and armored to survive, and has adaptable avionics for versatility. Armored air cavalry is made hardy with tough armor and weapons to destroy personnel, vehicle, and slow air targets. Capable of obliterating at several depths on the battlefield or close to the front.

The west discounts the losses to anti-air defenses as a weakness, but the western helicopter has also had losses in the Middle East.

Alleged reports say strong vibrations cause mechanical failures, but a contradiction came later. In December, the Ukrainians got an intact Alligator that might be reversed engineered and integrated into western helicopters.

Experts are tracking material loss in the Ukraine conflict based on visual evidence that 33 Alligators were downed. It is equipped with a terrain mapping radar and FLIR for night missions on the nose of the helicopter. It has defenses like modern avionics and protective systems on the wingtips of the gunship. The unique rotor system removes a tail rotor on the tail like the Defiant X of the USAF. The engine is good in hot and cold climes.

Ka-25 gunship, which the Russian pilots ejected from, as shown in the video, proves the helicopter ejection mechanism system successful.

Related Article: AH-64 Apache Vs. the Ka-52 Alligator: Who Wins in the Battle of the Best Attack Chopper?