Kamov Ka-29

The Kamov Ka-29, NATO reporting name Helix-B, is an armoured assault transport helicopter developed from the Ka-27 for the Soviet and later Russian Navy, designed specifically to provide fire support for amphibious landing operations. Like the rest of the Kamov family it uses two coaxial counter-rotating three-bladed main rotors, driven by two Klimov TV3-117V turboshafts. Its forward fuselage is widened, with a blunter nose and a flat windscreen, and the crew of two sit ahead of a cabin that takes up to 16 combat-equipped troops or a medical evacuation fit. Two stub wings with two hardpoints each carry rocket pods or anti-tank missiles, and a four-barrel 7.62 mm machine gun can be mounted under the right door. Around 30 are thought to have entered Russian Navy service, with service entry given as 1985; the Ka-29TB is the basic variant.