Ka31

Ka-31 is a Soviet and later Russian naval airborne early warning helicopter developed by the Kamov design bureau as a specialized variant of the Ka-27 family. It was created to provide extended radar surveillance, target tracking, and battle management for naval task groups by carrying a dedicated airborne radar system and communications suite. The helicopter is designed to operate from ships such as aircraft carriers and large surface combatants, extending the fleet’s situational awareness and cueing of air defenses and weapons systems.

Design and features include Kamov’s characteristic coaxial rotor arrangement, which allows compact operation from shipboard decks and hangars. A prominent dorsal radar fairing houses the helicopter’s search and tracking radar, enabling 360-degree coverage. The Ka-31 is equipped with data links and communications equipment to relay sensor data to shipborne command centers and other assets, providing coordinated air and surface problem-solving for the task force. Typical crew is three to four, including pilots and mission operators.

Development began in the 1980s, with trials in the latter part of the decade and entry into limited service with the Soviet Navy, and subsequently the Russian Navy, in the early 1990s. Production numbers were modest, and the program served as an interim or supplementary AEW capability alongside fixed-wing platforms and other rotorcraft.

Operational use has been focused on extending fleet command and control capabilities rather than mass deployments. The Ka-31 era has been marked by limited production and a niche role within the broader evolution of naval airborne early warning systems, with some plans for export remaining largely unrealized.