We got on the list both well-known western developments, and quite unexpected eastern and African combat helicopters. There are also three Russian “iron birds” in the ranking.

MIR 24 has gathered information about the main lobed "death machines", which to this day can be seen in reports from the "hot spots" and at exhibitions of the best examples of military equipment.

10th place. Agusta A129 Mangusta

This Italian attack helicopter was the first fully developed and assembled in Western Europe. Its carrying capacity is 4.6 thousand kilograms, while it can reach speeds of up to 278 km / h. It is usually equipped with three 20-mm Lockheed Martin guns, as well as eight air-to-ground, air-to-air and several dozen unguided missiles. It is in service with the Italian and Turkish Air Force.

9th place. Mi-24 Crocodile

8th place. CAIC WZ-10

Chinese helicopter developed on the basis of the Russian project. The crew is placed in tandem, which is not found in any other combat vehicle. It is mainly used as an anti-tank helicopter. Due to the relatively small carrying capacity it can accelerate to 300 km / h, while the case of the "iron bird" is made using stealth technology. Armed with a 23-mm cannon, as well as air-to-ground, air-to-air missiles and unguided shells. It is in service with the PRC Air Force.

Photo: 3GO * CHN-405 / mjordan_6

7th place. Ah-2

Attack helicopter developed in South Africa. Designed to destroy enemy manpower and equipment. It develops a speed of up to 300 km / h, while there are no seats for passengers, only a pilot and an operator of weapons systems get on board. Equipped with a 20 mm cannon, guided and unguided missiles. It is in service with the South African Air Force.

Photo: Danie van der Merwe

6th place. Hal lch

5th place. Eurocopter tiger

It was developed by the Franco-German consortium on the basis of three principles: “It should not be noticeable to enemies”, “If it was noticed, it should not get into it”, “If it got into it, it should remain in the air”. The combat vehicle is equipped with modern systems for reducing visibility, detecting and counteracting air defense and survivability. The latter provides for massive armor. It is equipped with a 30-mm cannon, diverse missiles and 12.7 mm machine guns as an additional weapon. It is in service with the armies of Australia, Spain, Germany and France.

Photo: DVIDSHUB - Flickr: French, US forces continue working side by side

4th place. Bell AH-1Z Viper

The attack helicopter designed in the USA has modern rotor and tail rotors and avionics. It also operates flawlessly in bad weather and at night. Mainly used by the American Navy. Speed \u200b\u200bis important in sea battles, so the Viper is one of the fastest fighting vehicles, and has a speed of up to 410 km / h. Armed with a 20-mm three-barreled gun, a large number of air-to-ground missiles and other shells. It is also possible to install an additional two guns.

Photo: Lance Cpl. Christopher O’Quin, USMC - U.S. Marine corps photo

3rd place. Mi-28N “Night Hunter”

Another helicopter developed at the Mil factory. This is a maneuverable combat vehicle capable of performing many aerobatics. It can fly forward with a speed of up to 325 km / h, and its lateral speed is 100 km / h. The helicopter copes with tasks perfectly in any weather. Armed with a 30-mm cannon, several types of missiles, it can also carry small-sized loads for setting minefields. It is in service with the Air Force of Algeria, Iraq and.

Photo: Yevgeny Volkov

2nd place. Ka-52 Alligator

The Alligator is a heavily armed new generation reconnaissance helicopter. It develops a good speed of 330 km / h, but this war machine does not need to fly fast. It has a target detection range of up to 300 km, and can also hit armored vehicles at a distance of 100 km. One of the most modern Russian aircraft has a 30-mm cannon and several diverse missiles. Interestingly, both the crew commander and the weapons systems operator can control the helicopter.

McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache - 293 km / h

Opens the ranking of the fastest helicopters in the world McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache - a two-seater American attack helicopter, developed by Hughes Helicopters in the early 1970s. Since the mid-1980s, it has been the main combat helicopter of the US Army, as well as the most widespread attack helicopter in the world. As of June 2013, about 2,000 vehicles were produced. Helicopter cruising speed - 265 km / h.

Mi-26 - 295 km / h

Mi-26, according to NATO classification: Halo ("Halo"), unofficial name - "Cow" - the Soviet heavy multi-purpose transport helicopter manufactured at the Rostvertol plant in Russia. It is the largest mass-produced helicopter in the world. Used to solve problems of both military and civilian nature, as well as for search and rescue operations. As of 2011, a total of 316 machines were manufactured, of which 40 were exported abroad (Canada-12, India - 10, North Korea - 2, Malaysia - 2 Peru - 2, South Korea - 1, etc.).

Mi-28 - 300 km / h

Mi-28 is a Russian attack helicopter designed to destroy armored vehicles on the battlefield. In addition, the helicopter can be used for fire support of ground forces, landing support, destruction of air targets and as a transport helicopter. According to NATO classification, the car received the designation Havoc - "Ravager". In total, more than 100 units were produced. The cruising speed of the Mi-28 is 270 km / h.

Ka-52 - 300 km / h

The Ka-52 Alligator, according to NATO classification: Hokum B is a two-seat Russian combat helicopter capable of hitting enemy armored and unarmored vehicles, manpower and air targets. The test flight of the first experimental Ka-52 took place at the aerodrome of the Progress aircraft plant on June 27, 2008, and on October 29 of the same year, its small-scale production began. A total of 79 Ka-52 aircraft were built.

NHI NH90 - 300 km / h

NHI NH90 - a twin-engine multi-purpose military helicopter, developed by the Franco-German company Eurocopter in two versions - ship transport and combat transport and landing. First flew in December 1995. In 2006 it was commissioned. As of July 2015, a total of 244 units were produced.

AgustaWestland AW101 - 309 km / h

AgustaWestland AW101 takes the fifth place in the ranking of the fastest helicopters or in the UK, Denmark and Portugal it is known as Merlin - a medium-sized multi-purpose helicopter developed by AgustaWestland. It is used both for military and civilian purposes. He made his first flight on October 9, 1987.

AgustaWestland AW139 - 310 km / h

AgustaWestland AW139 - medium twin-engine helicopter from the company Agusta Westland, designed to perform search and rescue tasks. He made his first flight on February 3, 2001. It entered service at the beginning of 2012. Today, the number of AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters ordered and their modifications is 650 units. They are used to solve various tasks, for example, for government visits, SAR / EMS missions, shipping, law enforcement, and are also involved in the civilian sector. Helicopter cruising speed - 306 km / h.

MI-35M - 310 km / h

In third place in the list of the ten fastest helicopters in the world is MI-35M - a deep modernization of the Soviet / Russian Mi-24 rotorcraft, which is one of the ten largest helicopters in the world. MI-35M has been mass-produced since 2005 at the Rostvertol plant in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

Boeing CH-47 Chinook - 315 km / h

Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American heavy twin-engine military transport helicopter, mass-produced since 1962. It is one of the largest helicopters in the world. Exported to 16 countries. As of 2012, more than 1,200 copies have been built.

Eurocopter X3 - 472 km / h

The world's fastest helicopter is the Eurocopter X3, an experimental high-speed hybrid helicopter developed by Airbus Helicopters. First flew on September 6, 2010 in France. On June 7, 2013, the Eurocopter X3 accelerated to 255 knots (472 km / h), thereby setting an unofficial speed record among helicopters. The mass of the aircraft is 5,200 kg.

A helicopter is a very effective means for delivering goods (especially to hard-to-reach places), for saving people, and also for military use, including as a strike weapon. From their first appearance during the Second World War to the present day, helicopters have been an indispensable tool in military conflicts.

We have prepared for you a list of ten of the best attack helicopters in the world. Helicopters were evaluated for several characteristics, including avionics, maneuverability, speed and firepower.

#10

CAIC WZ-10

  Attack helicopter CAIC WZ-10 (China)

CAIC WZ-10   - The first Chinese attack helicopter with a tandem cockpit. It was adopted by the Chinese army in 2011. This helicopter was developed using Russian Design Bureau Kamova.

The helicopter has a standard configuration, with a narrow fuselage of the tandem cockpit. Weapons in CAIC WZ-10   may consist of a 23-mm gun, guided and unguided air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles.

CAIC WZ-10   equipped with two 1285 hp turboshaft engines each. The maximum speed of the helicopter is more than 300 km / h. The body is made by stealth technology.

#9

Mi-24

This is the first Soviet strike (attack helicopter), which was released in 1971 and was actively used in various military conflicts. For all time, more than 3,500 units of this machine were produced in various modifications.

Mi-24   was the Soviet counterpart AN-64 Apachebut unlike Apatch and other western helicopters, the Mi-24 is also capable of carrying up to eight passengers.

Top speed Mi-24   with horizontal flight is 335 km / h. The helicopter is equipped with various small arms and cannon weapons, depending on the modification. It can also be equipped with various air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and unguided missiles or various bomb weapons.

#8

Denel AH-2 Rooivalk

This helicopter is manufactured in South Africa by Denel aerospace systems. Only 12 attack helicopters operate in the South African Air Force Denel AH-2 Rooivalk. And, although they look like completely new machines, nevertheless, their production was established on the basis of helicopters Aerospatiale puma. In particular, the Denel AH-2 Rooivalk uses the same engines and main rotor.

Denel AH-2 Rooivalk   equipped with two Turbomeca Makila 1K2 turboshaft power plants with a capacity of 1376 kW each.
  The maximum speed Denel AH-2 Rooivalk is 309 km / h.

The helicopter is equipped with a 20-mm cannon with 700 shells, as well as guided and unguided missiles.

#7

Bell AH-1 Super Cobra

Bell AH-1 Super Cobra   is a U.S. Army twin-engine helicopter based on a single-engine helicopter AH-1 Cobra. Created back in the early 1980s, this helicopter is the main marine assault helicopter in the United States.

The power plant of the helicopter consists of two turboshaft engines General Electric T700-GE-401   1285 kW each.
  The maximum speed of the helicopter is 282 km / h.

The helicopter is equipped with a 20-mm gun with 750 rounds of ammunition, guided by air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, as well as unguided missiles and bombs.

Until recently, there was army aviation. Today, it is not only developing in numerous directions, but there is also a declaration on its transformation into a main strike force from means of support for the Ground Forces. A striking example of such a transformation was the creation and introduction of the latest Caic WZ 10 attack helicopter into the troops. The letters WZ mean Wuzhuang Zhishengji, which literally means “armed helicopter”.

The history of the creation of the helicopter WZ-10

Caic wz 10 - Chinese attack helicopter, which was adopted by the Chinese army in February 2011. The official version of China says that caic wz 10 is its own development, but the helicopter was developed with the participation of Russian specialists. Attack helicopter wz 10 was built according to project 941, which was developed in 1995 in Russia.

The design of the helicopter was carried out in the Design Bureau "Kamov" by order of the Government of China in accordance with the requirements for which the aircraft must have a mass of six tons, as well as other flight characteristics. The participation of Russian experts in the creation of the WZ-10 was limited only to the design of the machine. China independently built all flight prototypes for testing, as well as production cars.   Experts from the Middle Kingdom themselves finalized the project.

The first flight of the helicopter took place in 2003. Production began in 2010, and entered service with the PLA WZ-10 in February 2011.

Technical characteristics of the helicopter WZ-10

The helicopter Caic WZ 10 has the following specifications:

• The crew consists of 2 people: weapons operator and pilot.
• The fuselage length is 14.5 m.
• The diameter of the rotor is 13 m.
• The mass of the empty helicopter is 5540 kg.
• The curb weight of the helicopter is 7000 kg.
• The maximum take-off weight is 8000 kg.
• The power plant consists of 2 Zhuzhou WZ-9 turboshaft engines.
• Engine power is 2 × 1285 liters. from.
• The maximum speed is 300+ km / h.
• Cruising speed is 270+ km / h.
• The practical ceiling is 6400 m.

Armament:

• Small arms armament includes a 1 × 23 mm cannon.
• 4 suspension points.
• Guided missiles:
  • unguided missiles include 4 blocks of 90-mm or 57-mm caliber;
  • air-to-air missiles include the TY-90;
  • air-to-ground missiles include up to 8 × ATGM HJ-10 Red Arrow.

Design Features of WZ-10 Helicopter

1. The helicopter was created according to the classic single-rotor scheme with a tail support and retractable three-landing gear. The narrow fuselage, which is trapezoidal in cross section, is made using composite materials, and is also equipped with a short wing.
2. The crew is located in tandem. Glazing and helicopter cockpit are armored. For safety during an emergency landing, the chassis is energy-absorbing and non-removable. On-board equipment of pilots fulfills the principle of a glass cockpit, for which large IFIs are installed. The seats of the crew and the fuselage are made taking into account the possibility of a relatively rough emergency landing.
3. Caic WZ 10 is equipped with 2 turboshaft engines. Measures are used to reduce IR visibility. The blades are made of composite materials, and the main rotor consists of 4 blades.
4. Helicopter control system - electro-remote.
5. The WZ-10 body is made using stealth technology.
6. The armament of the helicopter includes an OPS, which is located in the bow, as well as a 23 mm guided rotary gun. Mounting guided missiles is carried out at 4 points of the suspension of wings.

In 2012, there was a “motor” scandal. US authorities fined United Technologies Corporation, one of America's largest financial and industrial groups, $ 75 million illegally for deliveries of engines to China. The engines were intended for WZ-10 helicopters. The engine was produced by an American company Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies.   She has been selling engines to China for passenger and civilian transport helicopters for many years.

The engines that were supplied for the WZ-10 differed from the civilian versions only in software. As a result, China had to abandon the PT6C-76C engines, which were on the first prototypes. Less powerful WZ-9 engines made in China began to be put on production cars.

China has long argued that the Caic WZ 10 is an entirely Chinese development. However, in 2013, Sergey Mikheev, the general designer of Kamov OJSC, at the Heli-Expo exhibition said that the helicopter was created on the basis of the 941 outline design and this information was kept secret for quite some time.

Video about the Chinese helicopter WZ-10

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

Attack (attack) helicopters for almost half a century have been a deadly and very effective weapon of many armies in the world. Their main task is to search and destroy complex and small targets on land. At the same time, modern impact helicopters can hit sea and even air targets.

Since their appearance, these machines have been used in almost all conflicts and have shown their value, sometimes acting as the only means of fire support for the ground forces. The most effective attack helicopters are capable of fighting armored vehicles, which is their main task. Onliner.by compiled a rating of the six most deadly modern helicopters.

6. Bell AH-1 "Cobra" (USA)

The first specialized attack helicopter in the world and one of the most fought. For the first time, Americans used military “turntables” in large numbers during the war in Korea. Helicopter, who always had many opponents, showed himself from the best side.

After the war in Korea, the peace armies began to be actively equipped with helicopters. Nevertheless, they primarily performed a transport function, transporting goods and soldiers. Rotary-wing transport vehicles were equipped only with light weapons and were defenseless in front of bullets and shells of anti-aircraft machine guns and guns. However, the army needed specialized equipment designed exclusively for shock functions. And such a technique has appeared.

The Cobra was created on the basis of the legendary UH-1 Iroquois. But the helicopter had a completely different shape, which became classic for shock machines. The pilots were located one after another - thus reducing the frontal projection of the helicopter. The fuselage was narrow, the wings were small. The whole silhouette of the “Cobra” was harmonious and swift. The Pinwheel was widely used by the Americans in Vietnam and earned the love of soldiers and pilots.

A modern version of the model is the Bell AH-1 SuperCobra. The main difference from the original version was the presence of two engines instead of one and a modern avionics complex. The main armament of the machine is Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).

• crew: 2 people (pilot and operator);
• maximum take-off weight: 6690 kg;
• payload mass: 1736 kg;
• power plant: 2 turboshaft General Electric T700-GE-401;
• engine power: 2 × 1723 l. from. (2 × 1285 kW);
• maximum speed: 282 km / h (near the ground);
• practical range: 518 km.

It should be noted that the latest versions of "Supercobra" in their characteristics are not much inferior to attack helicopters, created much later. "Cobras" and "Supercobra" consisted and are in service with more than 10 countries. In addition to Vietnam, these machines were used in various conflicts in the Middle East and in their combat experience are inferior, perhaps, only to the legendary Mi-24, which took a slightly higher place in our rating.

5. Mi-24 (USSR)

This rotorcraft is recognizable and full of military glory. Mi-24 is one of the most massive and widespread helicopters in the world.

Following the "Cobra", he became the world's second attack helicopter and the first of such machines in the USSR. The helicopter was developed at KB Mil - the most experienced helicopter design bureau of the Soviet Union. Many of the components and assemblies of the Mi-24 were borrowed from another, no less legendary machine - the Mi-8 transport and combat helicopter. Like the Americans, the Milevts created a narrow and swift shock model from a rather heavy transport vehicle.

But the Mi-24 was significantly different from its overseas counterpart. Soviet designers wanted to embody the concept of a "flying infantry fighting vehicle" - an attack helicopter with the ability to carry an assault. On the one hand, this idea increased the size of the helicopter, increased its mass, and on the other, the Mi-24 received great flexibility of use. Although it was practically not used as an amphibious assault, the opportunity to carry excess cargo in the assault compartment, of the wounded, the crew of the wrecked car more than once saved the lives of soldiers and pilots.

But still the main task of the Mi-24 was the destruction of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, fortifications and manpower of the enemy. The helicopter was supposed to climb into the midst of battle and inflict deadly attacks. Designers defended the car with powerful armor, capable of withstanding small arms and in some places - even heavy machine guns. The Mi-24 was equipped with a built-in machine gun and cannon weaponry (depending on version), unguided and guided Sturm anti-tank missiles, bombs, built-in cannon containers, etc.

The Soviet helicopter, nicknamed the Crocodile for its elongated green silhouette, received baptism of fire in Afghanistan. Throughout the years of conflict, the Mi-24s acted as winged guardian angels of paratroopers and foot soldiers. The value of this helicopter is very difficult to overestimate. The maneuverable, fast-moving and at the same time well-armored Mi-24 was a very difficult and dangerous target for the Mujahideen.

Along with the Afghan conflict, a helicopter was used in almost every hot spot on our planet. Everywhere he established himself as an exceptionally reliable and tenacious machine.

Flight and technical characteristics:

• crew: 2-3 people;
• maximum take-off weight: 11,500 kg;
• maximum load capacity: 2400 kg;
• power plant: 2 engines TV3-117;
• power: 2 × 2200 l. from.;
• number of passengers: up to 8 paratroopers, 2 seriously wounded on a stretcher, 2 lightly wounded and a paramedic;
• maximum speed in horizontal flight: 335 km / h;
• practical flight range: 450 km;
• flight range: 1,000 km.

Mi-24 is or was in service with about 40 (!) Countries, becoming along with the AK and T-72 a symbol of Soviet weapons. In total, more than 3,500 cars were produced. In the 24P / K version, this helicopter is also in service in Belarus.

4. Eurocopter "Tiger"

This is one of the most modern, expensive and complex helicopters in the world. It was designed by the European Franco-German concern Eurocopter. This machine was developed later by Cobra and Mi-24, when a wealth of experience in the combat use of attack helicopters was accumulated.

The Germans and French believed that the basis for the survival of the combat aircraft of the future would not be thick armor and a strong structure, but low visibility, the use of electronic warfare (electronic warfare) and special tactics of application. It should be noted that a similar concept has shown its failure.

The helicopter was equipped with all kinds of sensors. The MEP sighting and navigation system is equipped with an over-the-neck viewing system, like on the Apache Longbow. Eurocopter was presented in several versions for France and Germany in shock and anti-tank modifications. The Tiger has a built-in 30-mm gun, as well as various versions of guided and unguided missiles. In addition to ATGMs, it also carries air-to-air missiles to combat enemy helicopters and aircraft.

Flight and technical characteristics:

• maximum take-off weight: 6100 kg;
• fuel mass in internal tanks: 1080 kg (+ 555 kg in PTB);
• fuel tank capacity: 1360 l (+ 2 × 350 l PTB);
• power plant: 2 turboshaft MTU / Turbomeca / Rolls-Royce MTR390;
• engine power: 2 × 1285 l. from.;
• maximum speed: 278 km / h;
• cruising speed: 230 km / h;
• practical range: 800 km.

Eurocopter is in service not only in France and Germany, but also in Spain and Australia. At the same time, the helicopter designed for the Cold War was not needed by the meager European armies with the collapse of the USSR. As a result, the total number of purchased vehicles is significantly different from the planned one.

The advantages of the "Tiger" include an advanced board and quite powerful weapons. However, it has insufficient armor protection for a combat attack helicopter. Next in our ranking will be the most armored helicopter in the world.

3. Flying Mi-28 tank

Work on this helicopter began almost immediately after the creation of the Mi-24. The new car was the successor of the well-proven Crocodile, only without a cargo compartment. Mi-28 was supposed to be a purely combat helicopter with strong armor and powerful weapons. The novelty made its first flight in 1982. The machine participated in the competition for a single strike helicopter along with another well-known helicopter - Ka-50 "Black Shark".

The Mi-28 was created according to a new concept for the use of combat helicopters - as close as possible to ground flight with envelope relief, quick search and destruction of targets. Great attention was paid to protection. The rich experience of using the Mi-24 in Afghanistan and other hot spots indicated that the attack helicopter should be seriously protected. The cockpit and its glazing withstand hit 12.7 mm armor-piercing bullets and 20 mm high-explosive shells. The engines of the machine are spaced as far as possible and equipped with heat filters to reduce the likelihood of hitting missiles with a thermal homing head. The hull and chassis design allows the crew to survive a fall at a speed of up to 12 m / s.

During the entire development period, the helicopter's armament was improved. The Mi-28N “Night Hunter” modification received the entire avionics complex for combat in various weather conditions and at night. The helicopter is equipped with a powerful 30 mm 2A42 gun, which was installed on the BMP-2. The main weapon of the helicopter is ATRA ATGM. Also, the machine can carry unguided weapons, missiles and bombs with a total mass of up to 2.5 tons.

Flight and technical characteristics:

• crew: 2 people;
• maximum take-off weight: 12,100 kg;
• mass of combat load: 2300 kg;
• fuel mass: 1500 kg;
• power plant: turboshaft VK-2500-02, 2700 l. from.;
• cruising speed: 265 km / h;
• range: 450 km.

After many years of lack of money, the Mi-28 is now actively purchased by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. At the moment, more than a hundred such helicopters have been produced. In addition, contracts were signed for deliveries to Iraq, Egypt and Algeria. Only the almost complete absence of combat experience and some avionics systems did not allow this remarkable helicopter to rise higher on our list.

2. Ka-52 "Alligator"

Kamov Design Bureau was the second helicopter design bureau in the Soviet Union. And if KB Mil was engaged in helicopters for the ground forces, then Kamov Design Bureau focused on naval aviation. It was she who first applied the unusual coaxial arrangement of the screws. The classic helicopter has a main rotor and a tail rotor. With a coaxial arrangement, both screws are on top. This scheme increases the height of the machine, complicates the design, but reduces its length and improves flight performance.

In the 70s, Kamov Design Bureau first took up the development of the competitor Mi-28. The result of this work was the Ka-50 Black Shark, the most beautiful attack helicopter in the world.

According to the results of the competition for the best combat helicopter, this model bypassed the helicopter KB Mil and was recommended for mass production. But the difficult 1990s came, and both the Ka-50 and Mi-28 were left without funding. It is worth noting that many military, despite the remarkable combat properties of the "Black Shark", were against this helicopter. The main argument was the absence of a second crew member - the navigator.

As mentioned above, the main objective of an attack helicopter is to search and destroy enemy tanks, as well as other small and point targets. One pilot could not fully cope with this task, even with the help of high-quality avionics helping him. It became obvious that a helicopter strike with one pilot is not viable.

Then a new helicopter was created with two crew members, called the Ka-52 Alligator. The car was originally planned to be used as a command, for reconnaissance and target designation, as well as as a marine version of an attack helicopter.

But it turned out that purchases of Ka-52 exceed purchases of Mi-28. And in the offices of the General Staff, and on the Internet forums do not cease debate about which of these machines is better? Both have almost one niche, similar characteristics, their advantages and disadvantages. Apparently, the RF Ministry of Defense didn’t decide on the best model, since it simultaneously purchases both helicopters.

The Mi-28 surpasses the Ka-52 in terms of protection, simplicity of design (classic design, continued Mi-24) and reliability. At the same time, the Kamov helicopter possesses the best flight characteristics, the best weapons at the moment and, most importantly, the best on-board equipment, practically not inferior in this respect to the winner of our top.

Like the Mi-28, the Ka-52 is armed with a 30-mm gun, but with better accuracy due to the installation in the center of the fuselage of the hull. At the same time, it has worse pointing angles compared to the Mi-28.

The "main caliber" of the Ka-52 are the "Whirlwind" supersonic anti-tank guided missiles. A helicopter can carry up to 32 of these missiles at maximum load. The standard equipment is 16 ATGM ATGMs and 2 NAR units (unguided aircraft missiles). Also, the machine can carry bombs and guided air-to-air missiles.

Flight and technical characteristics:

• crew: 2 people (pilot and weapon operator);
• maximum take-off weight: 12,200 kg;
• power plant: 2 turboshaft VK-2500 produced by Klimov;
• maximum speed: 300 km / h;
• cruising speed: 260 km / h;
• practical range: 460 km;
• ferry range: 1110 km;
• static ceiling: 4000 m;
• dynamic ceiling: 5500 m.

The Ka-52, like the Ka-50, was not exported outside of Russia. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation currently have more than 70 Alligators in competition with the American monster AN-64 Apache, our winner.

1. AN-64 Apache

AN-64 became the most massive second-generation combat helicopter, and the most belligerent.

The first Cobra drum machine proved to be extremely successful and has proven itself in Vietnam. At the same time, the US Army needed a new model that was better protected and carrying more powerful weapons. One of the main requirements was to ensure all-weather. The main task of the new helicopter was called the fight against enemy tanks (USSR). The layout of the AN-64 has become the reference for other impact helicopters. It is easy to see that the Mi-28 as a whole completely repeats the American machine.

Much attention in the development of the helicopter was paid to its survivability. So, the most important units are shielded less important, the engines are spaced as far as possible to exclude the simultaneous defeat of both, and the crew is protected by durable armor. Nevertheless, the main highlight of Apache is its airborne complex, equipped with the most modern means of monitoring, searching and destroying targets.

Throughout the entire life cycle, Apache continuously improved, trying to match threats to its combat characteristics. Initially, the main weapons of the helicopter were Hellfire ATGMs with a laser guidance head. But with the advent in the USSR of effective and numerous anti-aircraft complexes of short range “Tunguska”, it became clear that the helicopter would most likely be destroyed.

Then the Americans developed a modification of the AN-64D "Longbow" ("Longbow"). The Apache was equipped with a new generation of sub-submarine radar and Hellfire missiles with a “fired and forgot” homing head, allowing the helicopter to change its location and “hide” after launch. The efficiency of new cars has grown significantly. It should be noted that no modern helicopter is equipped with such a system, with the exception of the light and small European "Tiger". Russian helicopters Mi-28 and Ka-52 are still equipped with laser-guided missiles, greatly inferior to the American competitor in this.

But not only this allowed Apache to take first place in our ranking. For almost 30 years of its existence, the AN-64 managed to fight in many parts of the world. After Panama, Iraq became the main baptismal model of Iraq. During Operation Desert Storm, it was the AN-64 that breached the gap in Iraq's air defense system. Together with the A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft, these helicopters became the main opponents of Iraqi tanks. After 1991, Apaches were actively used in Afghanistan, and then again in Iraq.

Flight and technical characteristics:

• crew: 2 people (pilot and weapon operator);
• maximum take-off weight: 10 432 kg;
• power plant: 2 × theater General Electric 1890 liters. from.;
• maximum speed: 290 km / h;
• cruising speed: 250 km / h;
• practical range: 406 km;
• ferry range: 1899 km.

At the moment, Apache is one of the most common attack helicopters in the world. All produced about a thousand copies. The AN-64 model of various modifications is in service with more than ten countries in different parts of the world. In this helicopter, the engineers were able to most successfully combine all the combat properties of actual attack machines.