The Telegram channel "Russkiy Inzhener" published footage of the Ka-52 helicopter's combat operations against unmanned aerial vehicles. The channel's author, engineer Alexey Vasiliev, drew attention to the firing tactics: the operator fired single shots and at a significant distance. This is done to reduce the risk to the helicopter from the detonation of the UAV's warhead, which uses heavy damaging elements.
According to Vasiliev, the single-shot firing mode provides maximum accuracy, while automatic fire gives too much dispersion to hit a small target at a distance of more than 200 meters.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to equip helicopter automatic cannons with proximity-fuzed shells. And then the most optimal interceptor for mass heavy UAVs with drone swarm tactics will be either a light jet UAV with a low-ballistic autocannon with proximity fuzes, or a turboprop aircraft with reduced-ballistic autocannons, with a high rate of fire and also a proximity fuze, as well as frontal armored glass and engine protection. That is our answer to the Super Tucano.
According to the expert, such interceptors should be subordinate to a structure responsible for the defense of internal territory, for example, separate air defense forces providing protection against threats in normal and low-altitude airspace.
Ka-52 against Drones: What We Have Already Written on This Topic
The use of Ka-52 helicopters to intercept drones is one of the key topics of recent months. Ka-52M received 30-mm ammunition with programmable proximity fuzes. The helicopter's sighting system automatically calculates the detonation point, and damage occurs from a shrapnel cloud. It was reported that the crew destroyed 25 enemy drones in one sortie.
Engineer Alexey Vasiliev has already commented on the effectiveness of the 2A42 cannon on the Ka-52: in his estimation, proximity-fuzed shells are cheaper than guided missiles, and a high ammunition load makes drone swarm tactics much less effective. The expert also advocated for the formation of separate squadrons of light interceptors – so as not to deplete the resources of heavy machines.