Photo: Russian Helicopters
Russian Helicopters has shown Ka-32A11M helicopter at the International Dubai Airshow. This is the latest version of one of the world’s best fire-fighting helicopters. This is the first international appearance of the modernized rotorcraft. The helicopter has been met with great interest in the aircraft community.
The Ka-32A11M underwent a set of improvements compared with Ka-32A11VS modification. The primary changes are as follows: new Russian-made engines with digital control system, digital flight and navigation system, state-of-the-art fire-fighting and emergency rescue equipment.
The Ka-32A11M is furnished with the latest domestically made SP-32 fire-extinguishing system. Its capacity is up to 4,000 liters of water and up to 400 liters of foam agent. The key feature is electrical water heating that ensures fire extinguishing at temperatures as low as -20 °С. This function has been implemented for the first time in the world.
Using a water cannon, the Ka-32A11M is able to perform horizontal fire extinguishing on top floors of high-rise buildings and at oil and gas industry facilities, including high smoke concentration conditions. Additional options also include a suspended water bucket.
VK-2500PS-02 engines have high power in full-power and emergency conditions due to more accurate temperature holding by BARK automatic digital control system.
The helicopter has a flight and navigation system with data display screens (“glass cockpit”) that reduces crew workload considerably.
High maneuverability and flying capability in the most complex conditions due to the use of coaxial twin-rotor configuration is one the Ka-32A11M advantages. Its features include simplified flying technique compared with the “classical” configuration, hovering stability, high maneuverability and high thrust-to-weight ratio.
