A multi-purpose successor to the Mi-24, the Mi-48 Kajman (BLUFOR designation "Hornet") is a large gunship and attack helicopter with troop transport capacity for 8 passengers. The front part of the helicopter is based on the Mi-28 attack helicopter, but the hull is modified for passenger transport. The Kajman has a coaxial rotor providing increased stability. It is armed with a 30mm three-barrel Minigun, unguided Skyfire rockets and guided Skalpel AT missiles.
The Mi-48 (NATO reporting name: Hornet) is a large helicopter gunship with low-capacity troop transport capability. It uses a tandem cockpit layout and has a distinctive coaxial rotor system that removes the need for a tail rotor.
Armament
By default, the Mi-48 is armed with a 30 mm autocannon that is pre-loaded with interchangeable belts of either 250 rounds of high-explosive (HE-T) shells, or 250 rounds of armour-piercing discarding sabot (APDS-T) shells.[CfgVh 6][CfgVh 7] The gunner can instantaneously swap between ammunition types at any time without having to wait for the cannon to reload.[CfgWp 1][CfgWp 2]
Mi-48 pylon configuration
It has two pylons on each stub wing (totalling up to four) fixed on both sides of the fuselage that support dynamic loadouts. The following weapons and munitions can then be fitted onto any of the pylons (1-4):
Scalpel (1×)
Scalpel (3×)
Twin Cannon 20 mm
Tratnyr HE (20×)
Tratnyr AP (20×)
Skyfire (19×)
Sahr-3 (1×)
Sharur (1×)
LOM-250G (1×)
RBK-500F (1×)
Unique to the Mi-48 out of all the rotary-wing helicopters, it can double both as a heavily armed gunship and flying troop transport.
Features
Unique to the Mi-48, it is capable of acting both as a heavy attack helicopter and troop transport. Although it lacks an internal weapons bay and has no electronic stealth capabilities (as opposed to its NATO counterpart), the Mi-48 compensates with stub wings that are capable of carrying heavier ordnance.
Additionally, the gunner's turret also has access to a laser designator.[CfgVh 6] This grants the Mi-48's crew the ability to serve as a flying Forward Air Control platform, allowing the helicopter's gunner to lase targets for fixed-wing jets or laser-guided artillery.
Notable Traits
Since it isn't constrained by the limitations of an internal weapons bay or the need to be stealthy, the Mi-48 is able to fit multiple Skalpel ATGMs that are more than capable of destroying most NATOtanks in one or two hits.[CfgVh 11] The wings can even be armed with laser-guided cluster bombs, allowing the Mi-48 to serve as an (albeit improvised) flying anti-infantry/anti-structure bomb truck.[CfgVh 12]
In addition, the Mi-48 is better armoured and can withstand significantly more punishment before suffering from any critical component failures.[CfgVh 13] The softer-skinned Blackfoot on the other hand, will be outright destroyed if it takes more than just one or two direct hits from anti-air weaponry.
With both rotors knocked out by a single missile, this Mi-48 is unable to auto-rotate and plummets straight to the ground.
Drawbacks
Its only real downside stems from its coaxial-rotor configuration. While this layout removes a major vulnerability that other conventional helicopters share (their tail rotor), it also means that the Mi-48 stands no chance at auto-rotating safely to the ground should both of its main rotors get disabled at the same time by a single hit.
Likewise, the airframe's weight means that it will usually lose altitude rapidly once its rotors are knocked out. Both the crew and passengers are almost certainly guaranteed to perish unless the helicopter was already hovering close to the ground at the time of the rotor's failure.
Electronically, the Mi-48 is easy to detect both on active radars and infrared sensors. The NATO Blackfoot can simply switch its radar off to remain hidden from passive sensors. The Mi-48 on the other hand, will always be spotted at distances of 20% more than the opposing sensor's usual maximum range, regardless of whether the pilot has activated the Mi-48's radar.[CfgVh 14][CfgVh 15]
Lastly, the Mi-48 is not able to relay targeting information to friendly forces even when its radar is activated. It cannot receive nor transmit data and as a result, is unable to serve as an airborne radar platform (as opposed to the likes of the Y-32 VTOL).
Crew Capacity
The Mi-48 has a maximum seating capacity of ten personnel. This consists of both crewmembers (a pilot and the gunner) as well as up to eight passengers in the troop compartment.[CfgVh 1]
Camouflage[]
Black
Hex
1/2
Black: Pattern-less chrome black paint scheme. Used on Pacific CSAT and Russian Spetsnaz Mi-48s.
Hex: Light tan/dark tan/dark green cell pattern camouflage. Only used by Mediterranean CSAT forces.
The Mi-48 has a base armour value of 60.[CfgVh 13]
LEGEND[SCR 2] Green = Hull Orange = Engines Violet = Fuel tank Light blue = Transmission Maroon = Instruments Yellow = Main rotors (1) Dark blue = Main rotors (2)
Hull[]
The hull takes full damage from high-explosive (HE) type munitions.[CfgVh 16] 100% of incoming damage will always be shared with the Mi-48's main "health" pool.[CfgVh 17]
Damage to the helicopter's hull is dependent on the total amount of damage inflicted to other components.[CfgVh 18][CfgVh 19] On its own, depletion of the hull's integrity cannot cause the helicopter to explode unless all other components have been destroyed as well.[CfgVh 20]
Engines[]
The Mi-48's twin engines can each take up to 180 points of damage before they suffer from failure.[CfgVh 21][CfgVh 22][Formula 1] Both engines take 300% additional damage from HE-type munitions.[CfgVh 23][CfgVh 24]
100% of incoming damage to either engine will be shared with the helicopter's main "health" pool. Destruction of the engines has the potential to cause an explosion if the Mi-48 is at critical "health" status.[CfgVh 25][CfgVh 26]
Fuel tank[]
The Mi-48's fuel tank can withstand up to 120 points of damage before it ruptures.[CfgVh 27][Formula 2] It takes 200% additional damage from HE-type munitions.[CfgVh 28] 100% of incoming damage will always be shared with the Mi-48's main "health" pool. If the Mi-48 is at critical "health" status, destruction of the fuel tank can potentially cause the helicopter to explode.[CfgVh 29]
Instruments[]
The Mi-48's flight instruments, Multi-Functional Displays (MFD) and Head Mounted Display (HMD) can take a maximum of 90 points of damage before they start to malfunction.[CfgVh 30][Formula 3] They take 150% additional damage from HE-type munitions.[CfgVh 31] 100% of incoming damage will always be shared with the Mi-48's main "health" pool.[CfgVh 32]
Main rotors[]
The Mi-48's coaxial rotors can take up to 156 points of damage before they suffer from failure.[CfgVh 33][CfgVh 34][Formula 4] All rotors take 200% additional damage from HE-type munitions.[CfgVh 35][CfgVh 36] Only 10% of incoming damage will be shared with the Mi-48's main "health" pool.[CfgVh 37][CfgVh 38]
The Mi-48 is protected by a mix of armoured glass and composite metal armour plates that surround the entire hull, main rotors, cockpit, passenger cabin and tail structure:
The main rotors, tail boom, and passenger cabin doors are protected by composite metal armour plates with a thickness of 12 millimetres.[rvmat 1][bisurf 1]
The majority of the helicopter's hull, tail structure, nose, gun turret, and parts of the landing gears are protected by composite metal armour plates with a thickness of 20 millimetres.[rvmat 2][bisurf 2]
The cockpit, frontal section of the hull, engines, and underbelly of the passenger cabin are protected by composite metal armour plates with a thickness of 30 millimetres.[rvmat 3][bisurf 3]
The cockpit's seats are protected by composite metal armour plates with a thickness of 40 millimetres.[rvmat 4][bisurf 4]
Windows for both the cockpit and passenger cabin are protected by panes of armoured glass.[rvmat 5][bisurf 5]
The cockpit/passenger cabin windows are bullet-resistant and can block bullet projectiles fired by 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. However, they can be shattered after multiple consecutive hits or a single powerful blast. Once shattered, the windows will no longer be able to block bullet projectiles.
Sensors[]
The Mi-48 utilises several sensors meant to augment its role as an air-to-ground fire support platform:
The Mi-48's Active Radar can only detect targets once they get within bounds of the sensor's range (represented by the teal semi-circle on the SENSORS panel).[note 1] It has an elevation offset of 30 degrees.[CfgVh 90]
Infrared Sensor[]
The Mi-48's IR Sensor is located in the gun turret camera (represented by the red cone on the SENSORS panel).[CfgVh 91] Although it is technically affected by heavy fog, the range reduction effect is so miniscule (-0.125 metre reduction[CfgVh 51]) that it will be barely noticeable.[note 2]
It should be noted that the Infrared Sensor does not have an elevation offset.[CfgVh 92]
Laser Sensor[]
The Mi-48's Laser Sensor is forward-facing only. Any designated targets will become visible on the Mi-48's SENSORS panel only when the helicopter is (mostly) facing in the direction of the laser spot.[note 1]
NV Sensor[]
The Mi-48's NV Sensor is forward-facing only. Any IR grenades on the ground will only become visible on the SENSORS panel when the Mi-48 is (mostly) facing in the direction of the grenade.[note 1]
Passive Radar[]
The Mi-48's Passive Radar can detect Active Radar threats in any direction (regardless of the helicopter's facing direction).[note 1]
Visual Sensor[]
The Mi-48's Visual Sensor is located in the gun turret camera (represented by the orange cone on the SENSORS panel).[CfgVh 93] The Visual Sensor can be affected by heavy fog and can lose up to 6% of its range depending on its thickness. The Visual Sensor becomes completely blind at nighttime and very low-light conditions.[note 2]
It should be noted that the Visual Sensor does not have an elevation offset.[CfgVh 94]
Armament[]
NOTE:Only the weapons used on the default loadout for the Mi-48 are listed here. For full details on ordnance that can be mounted on the Mi-48's pylons, refer to the dynamic loadouts article.
The gunner position controls all weapon systems on the Mi-48:[CfgVh 6][CfgVh 8]
General-purpose 30 mm autocannon. It can load and fire either HE or AP-type shells:
High-Explosive (HE): Has a muzzle velocity of 960 m/s.[CfgMa 1] Inflicts HE-type damage.[CfgAm 6] Has a blast radius of 3 metres.[CfgAm 13][note 3]
Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS): Has a muzzle velocity of 1,120 m/s.[CfgMa 2] Inflicts AP-type damage.[CfgAm 7] The shells have a spill radius of 0.2 metres[CfgAm 14] and an armour penetration depth of ~ 70 millimetres.[CfgAm 12][Formula 8]
Regardless of munition type, the Cannon Caseless 30 mm can attain a fire rate of up to 750 rounds per minute.[CfgWp 3][CfgWp 4][Formula 9] The Cannon Caseless 30 mm always fires shells in bursts of 5 rounds per volley.[CfgWp 5][CfgWp 6] There is no delay for swapping between munition types; the process is instantaneous no matter the munition type.[CfgWp 1][CfgWp 2]
The Cannon Caseless 30 mm's Fire Control System features both automatic lead and zeroing capabilities, though only against targets moving at speeds of ~ 110 km/h or less.[CfgWp 7][Formula 10] It takes at least 0.5 seconds for the FCS to finish calculations against valid targets.[CfgWp 8] Manual zeroing is also available, starting from a minimum of 100 metres up to a maximum of 2,500 metres (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 2500).[CfgVh 95] By default, the Cannon Caseless 30 mm utilises a zeroing setting of 600 metres.[CfgVh 96]
For horizontal rotation limits, the Cannon Caseless 30 mm can be swivelled up to a maximum of 120 degrees in both directions.[CfgVh 97][CfgVh 98] Vertically however, it is restricted to an elevation of just 20 degrees[CfgVh 99] and a depression of up to 30 degrees.[CfgVh 100]
Unguided air-to-ground rockets. Skyfires are fired with an initial velocity of 44 m/s[CfgMa 3] and can reach speeds of up to 590 m/s[CfgAm 15] in-flight.
Optics[]
Pilot[]
The pilot can (optionally) look via the nose camera to assist in landings. No sensors are attached to this camera.
This camera can toggle three fields of view: Wide (WFOV 1x)[CfgVh 101], Medium (MFOV 5x)[CfgVh 102] and Narrow (NFOV 15x).[CfgVh 103] It can activate a day, night and black-/white-hot thermal vision mode.[CfgVh 104][CfgVh 105]
A laser rangefinder and display for grid coordinates are available.[CfgVh 106] Although it cannot be used for targeting purposes, the camera is stabilised and can be locked onto either point or area targets if needed.[CfgVh 107]
Gunner[]
The gunner can look directly through the turret's gunsight. The Mi-48's IR and Visual sensors are specifically slaved to the turret's camera.[CfgVh 91][CfgVh 93]
Its camera is able to switch between three fields of view: Wide (WFOV 0.53x)[CfgVh 108], Medium (MFOV 2.68x)[CfgVh 109] and Narrow (NFOV 8.62x).[CfgVh 110] No matter the selected FOV, the camera is able to toggle three vision modes: day, night, and black-/white-hot thermal.[CfgVh 111][CfgVh 112]
A laser rangefinder is also available (albeit with no support for displaying for grid coordinates).[CfgVh 113] Although the gun turret itself is stabilised[CfgVh 114], the turret's camera cannot lock onto point/area targets.
Avionics[]
MAWS[]
The Mi-48 has a Missile Approach Warning System installed. It will warn the helicopter's crew if there are missiles that have successfully locked onto the helicopter are flying towards it.[CfgVh 115]
RWR[]
The Mi-48 has a Radar Warning Receiver that will alert the pilot and gunner if they are being locked onto by a radar-based targeting system.[CfgVh 116]
IWR[]
The Mi-48 does not have an Infrared Warning Receiver. The helicopter's crew will not be warned if an infrared-based targeting system is attempting to lock onto it.[CfgVh 116]
LWR[]
The Mi-48 is fitted with a Laser Warning Receiver that will alert the pilot/gunner if a laser-based targeting system is attempting to lock onto the helicopter.[CfgVh 116]
AI[]
NOTE:The following information only applies to the AI.
The Mi-48 is considered to be a dangerous threat[8] to AI-controlled infantry units and other aircraft (0.8/0.8).[CfgVh 119]
AI-controlled ground vehicles consider the Mi-48 to be an extremely dangerous threat (1) and will prioritise attacking it if possible. Otherwise, they will attempt to flee if they lack the ability to engage the Mi-48.[CfgVh 119]
As stated in the Field Manual and in a livestream event held by the studio on March 8th, 2023, the Kajman's design and capabilities draw inspiration from three real-world Russian attack helicopters designed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and Kamov Design Bureau.[10] Both companies are subsidiaries of Rostec, their state-owned parent company.
Specifically, it uses the cockpit layout of the Mil "Mi-28", tail boom and coaxial rotor design of the Kamov "Ka-50"/"Ka-52" and fuselage/passenger cabin of the Mil "Mi-24".[11]
The Kajman was not originally available in the Alpha. It would only become available after the release of Game Update 0.70 (specifically for the Beta's release).[12]
Kaймaн or Kajman, is Russian for Caiman, a crocodile-like reptile. This follows the nicknames of the Mi-24 being Krokodil (Крокодил) which translates into "Crocodile", and the Ka-52 "Alligator" (Аллигатор).
Kajman cockpit (top) compared to the AH-64D's (bottom)
Strangely, the Kajman's cockpit reuses the same MFD and flight panels as the AH-64D from ArmA 2.
The layout is completely identical with the only difference being that the original English labels have been translated into Russian. Given the Kajman's Russian origins, it is not known as to why the developers opted to reuse the AH-64D's cockpit.
Mi-48s were originally limited to just Mediterranean CSAT forces and the Russian Spetsnaz[note 6], though the Old Man mini-campaign/scenario would eventually depict it in limited use with Pacific CSAT forces as well.[13]
Before the release of Game Update 1.40, the first person view of human players occupying the pilot's seat would vibrate excessively once the Kajman went past certain airspeeds (the gunner was not affected).[14]
Prior to Game Update 1.42, a visual glitch caused Skyfire rockets to not disappear from their tubes even after both pods were fully depleted.[15]
Originally, the Kajman's 30 mm cannon fired shells in ten round bursts. This was later reduced to five round bursts after Game Update 1.62.[16]
↑ 1.01.11.21.3This sensor IS NOT affected by the player's View and Object Distance settings.
↑ 2.02.1This sensor IS affected by the player's View and Object Distance settings and may not function at its maximum range unless their graphics settings are set to an equal or higher distance. However, it should be noted that specifically in the case of aerial targets, Object Distance settings will not affect the sensor's detection range (only View Distance still matters).
↑ 3.03.13.2For the purposes of damage interactions versus specific armour types, the Cannon Caseless 30 mm's HE shells inflict only HE-type damage due to the usage of the warheadName token (which is set to "HE"). However, because the ammo's explosive token uses a coefficient value of 0.8, the shells still inflict 20% kinetic damage in addition to 80% explosive-type damage, though they (usually) cannot pierce armour since the shells explode upon impact.
↑The Cannon Caseless 30 mm's APDS shells can inflict spill damage but are 100% kinetic (the explosive coefficient is set to 0).
↑ 5.05.1Damage will be reduced if the projectile's velocity drops below this value.
↑Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2023, Background, History, and Setting | Discussions with Ivan Buchta and Scott Alsworth, Twitch [Online Video], viewed 28 May 2023, <https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1759425550>.
↑Twitch 2023 [Online Video], Buchta, I, Background, History, and Setting | Discussions with Ivan Buchta and Scott Alsworth, 00:17:45, "Ivan Buchta: One of those contraptions we've invented ourselves, of course based on some existing things, is this Mi-48 Kajman, this beast of a helicopter used by the CSAT in Arma 3. It would never fly, which became apparent when we tried to use flight model from Take On Helicopters on it. I said 'What is this? It would barely stand! It wouldn't fly at all!'. But it's a combination of Mi-28 Havoc and Mi-24 Hind."
CSAT - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
Russian Spetsnaz - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
