Kalashnikov Group has modified its Vikhr missile with a non-contact target sensor so it can be used from Ka-52 attack helicopters against drones, moving the weapon into an air-to-air role that is already being used in combat. The disclosure was made in Moscow and ties one of Russia’s best-known helicopter-launched missiles to the growing counter-UAV mission set facing army aviation.
The Vikhr was originally developed as a laser-guided air-to-ground anti-tank weapon for the Ka-52, but the battlefield environment has shifted as drones have become a more prominent threat. Alan Lushnikov, Kalashnikov’s chief executive, linked the adaptation to that change and described the upgrade as an in-house initiative rather than a formal procurement programme.
Kalashnikov also cast the helicopter-launched approach as a lower-cost option with more favourable aiming conditions than some alternatives. The company has not disclosed the sensor’s technical details, the missile’s effective range against drones or a full test record, and no independent technical verification has been provided.