DCS Black Shark 3: Fact Fiction or Frankencopter?

[@crusader__aut7165]

Really looking forward to BS3. I bought and learned every helicopter in DCS, but the last one i added to the collection was the Shark. I was always afraid of it only being a single-seat attack chopper and thus too much to handle for me, but since i bought it last month it has become my favourite whirlybird. It´s just so unique and usefull in many situations on the simulated battlefield. Your channel is a goldmine for every Shark-lover thank you so much for your videos!

[@volkvoort]

Thanks. Think the best tip with the single seat when learning is just to only pilot or only gun at one time, rather than trying to do both when it's flying unstable.

[@justinhuey7253]

The black shark has a much more robust autopilot system than say a Huey

[@tmting4942]

You have right.. this machine was deeply thought through by its designers, and incessantly geared up to face off the odds, when it approach the unknown in an uncertain and highly dynamic post cold war era battlefield. As a Maneuver Element (unlike the 64 which is a Support Element), the shark is fitted to loiter above the FLOT & on the Front Line. As a Recon Element of an integrated deep strike system (including F.A: 2S19 Msta with K-155M Krasnopol M2, and Striker: Su-25T subsonic & Mig-27K supersonic with Kh-25ML/Kab-500L), is fitted to Observe / Designate from the stand-off. I still have faith in ED's commitment to bringing joy to the Ka-50 community, despite some "Real-Life" gusty winds.

[@Ropetor]

It's also great seeing the amount of work that went into modelling the BS3 it truly will be great seeing it fly from a FARP model made before I was born.

[@Bobierino]

😂😂

[@bazejs8084]

I like how you were objective and realistic judging realism of different features.

[@volkvoort]

Thanks, I tried to be.

[@citomors]

I saw the post on reddit yesterday where this discussion was taking place, and am so happy you took the time to make a video about this, I have come to love the blackshark as a platform and really wish the west would produce something similar.

[@volkvoort]

well, almost with the raider/defiant. not single seat or pure attach, but coax part.

[@aaronwhite1786]

I'm looking forward to skinning this thing! I made some Iranian Army skins that were my first attempts at skins in DCS. The Ka-50 was a bit of a nightmare in terms of layout and stretching, but if this BS3 is anything like the Mi-24, it should be a challenge, but really fun as well. I'm bummed we're not getting the laser countermeasure turrets, but the MWS and automated countermeasures alone are a pretty solid upgrade, paired with the external upgrade for me.

[@volkvoort]

Would be cool if the release had half the amount of (fictional) liveries BS2 had. If not, would be awesome of livery makers such as yourself fills those gaps.

[@RobXMusic]

If you don't remember, but originally ED planned to introduce the F-16C without 6 Mavericks, but only 4. But when the community found out about it, everyone demanded 6 and they did it. So there is no point in talking about realism. Block 50 was not planned by ED. Therefore, there is no need to talk about the Ka-50 as something not real with Igla missiles. After all, none of you has obviously heard even about the Ka-50N.

[@Ropetor]

22:30 the Apache and Ka-50N/Sh would have extremely similar performance in terms of thermal imager resolution, both use 2nd gen thermals the Samshit-50T uses a French thermal imager from Thales, the difference would be in regards to the displays but i know almost nothing about the N/Sh displays

[@NorthernGrim]

regardless, I love the fact they updated an old module! And I'm super happy that it's model etc. will now match up to the standard of the Apache and Hind!

[@volkvoort]

that. all of that

[@ivanstepanovic1327]

When it appeared, there were two camo patterns; the one shown in this video was called "Werewolf". The other was all black with red lines outlining some panels or smth like that and it was the one called "Black Shark"... The name Black Shark caught up, even though this version is not called like that. It was the only single seater helicopter. The most of functions were automated, allowing one pilot. However, the first combat usage showed it wasn't good enough, so they introduced another crew member as well as some other changes and dubbed it Ka-52 and Ka-50 was discontinued. Also, Ka-52 has a bit less armor. It is said that Mi-28 is better armored than Ka-52...

[@jimmydesouza4375]

I personally think they should include every single random experimental or hypothetical function that was ever on any airframe with the ability to toggle them on/off or mounted/not mounted just to increase variety.

[@volkvoort]

Interesting take. It would allow all the hypothetical possibilities, but the downsides would be mission makers would need to be very careful with warehouse restrictions to omit certain pylons/features if they wanted stricter policies, and DCS might then become regarded as more a fantasy platform vs simulation.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

@@volkvoort "DCS might then become regarded as more a fantasy platform vs simulation." It always has been a fantasy platform though. The whole thing around the Jeff's missiles for example.

[@volkvoort]

@@jimmydesouza4375 Fair enough. guess a better (and I guess) longer statement would have been that it might change the core audience and appeal away from aviation enthusiast looking for more in depth simulation in their games, to those wanting pure game and more Ace Combat.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

@Frost Does warthunder have campaigns/scenarios/a map editor? IF so, then all it would need would be high fidelity flight models and fully interactable cockpits and there'd genuinely be no point to DCS.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

@Frost Hmm. If a game has purposefully toned down missiles in order to try to promote dogfighting and gun kills, would that not make it an arcade game?

[@mr.schmee]

I love the ka50. Definitely looking forward for bs3.

[@roman335i]

BTW, the render model at 13:48 showed this two laser pods which are not in the present BS3. did they cancel it or will it comes later on?

[@volkvoort]

They cancelled it. It was their original plan, then I think a new Russian law entered which changed what information they could use or something, then went into hibernation while they figured out what to do with BS3.

[@rawnukles]

I heard of those people who have a preference for attack helicopters but I never thought I would meet one. Great video. I learned a lot.

[@volkvoort]

Thanks

[@kilianortmann9979]

I am fine with the introduction of small series, pre-production and prototype vehicles, as long as the development got to a stage, where we can say with reasonable confidence, how the systems, switchology and procedures would have looked like. That beeing said, I want my YA-7F Strikefighter.

[@adrew31043]

Yo Volk is the Man, he sat in Tactical DCS server and walked me through weapons and various aspects of the BS3 a couple days ago. Thanks for your help!

[@Tuuvas]

12:25 so majestic, like Russian dolphins lol

[@volkvoort]

don't think dolphins crash into one another ;-)

[@sebywest3736]

the original factory color of the cockpit of the ka-50 is blue like in the mig-21 and the ka-52 has black, but that doesn't matter now and the last series of the ka-50 had a needle mounted on the 3rd pylon and was tested successfully because the r-73s were expensive and r-60 proved bad on another model of helicopter and then there was a concept of helicopter and many American spies from the embassy and fake tourists in the cccp were caught and they tried to steal it through domestic traitors like mig-23 and mig-25 if they didn't succeeded

[@volkvoort]

Ah, so you're saying the very first V-80 or the first factory serial-production Ka-50 had the blue cockpit? Do you have any photos or other docs/sources about that third pylon. All the photos I've seen of the final 27 & 28 (if I recall the numbers correctly) still had 2 pylons, and later had the missile warnings added, but I've only seen them with 2 pylons. And supposedly Iglas were attached to one of the pylons for an trade show exhibition (but not fired) as well as displayed in one of the 'spreads' on the ground under one of the wings for the Black Shark movie's approved armaments.

[@monostripezebras]

I still only use the shark to slingload.. super fun.

[@volkvoort]

heh. rebel

[@flachwassertaucher9684]

Thx for all the info. Was searching for that stuff for some time, but couldn´t find much. Only some confusion, like the KA50-2, the other KA50-2 and the KA50-2.

[@henryredbird888]

Definite Frankencopter, but then again, it always was. Nothing but a test bed that eventually led to the Ka-52.

[@volkvoort]

Fully with the Iglas, yeah frankencopter. As for the testbed thing - no - fully entered service and awarded serial production to become the only attack helo, but then 'things' happened.

[@orleansjunky4074]

Oh o. More complaints for why the Apache didn't get air to air lol

[@volkvoort]

heh. I see those daily anyway

[@cdgncgn]

here I thought that Ka-50 was untouched since 2001-2. I really thought this was rather weird seeing things that remind of the Vitebsk I expect it is read with a P instead of B. President-S afaik is export version. Something Iraqis did not buy on their mi-35Ms which resulted in shoot downs around 2015-16. Those Freedom (Registered) fighters were very well supplied. From what I remember when RF came in to SAR in october 2015, Vitebsk suites including dircm (from my imagination, it tries to heat up the seeker head itself, or shine such light that has no relation to the target, giving it as if false reading of a target- the kinds of light missile has sensors for, is what directed light wants to shine at it not in general direction) I was thinking this UV camera was fancy scifi for the Ka-50.

[@volkvoort]

You're probably right on the P vs B pronunciation. And yeah, it is fancy sci-fi stuff. Don't think it detects muzzle flashes though like some of the other UV cameras supposedly can.

[@kerrylogan2978]

I wonder if any scenarios include a battlefield full of shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles and drone surveillance?

[@enilsonssantos6690]

Fiz meu Update, o nível de detalho é absurdo. parabéns pelo vídeo.

[@volkvoort]

Obrigada

[@Kruemel98]

I had enough miles to upgrade, it was needless to resist.

[@tangofrown3352]

they also take things from the ka52 ofc

[@مراد-ش8ط]

Thanks for the video. Good work. Keep it up. I'm of the people who care more about realism and if its up to me I would want to see Ka-50's systems 100% working and have full functionality. i.e. Shkval Day/Night/Rain/Weather/etc filters that has a selector knob under the Shkval's Screen to work and do real function. I can't verify that for my self because I don't have DCS set up now. And I would like if any ony deliever for us the GOOD news that ED fixed them and gave them funiction now with BS3. I also want to see Shkval lock-on mechanic to be more real. As you know Shkval only lockon (snap onto) alive targets only I want to see it reworked up to match the real deal as in real life and not just programmed snap on to alive targets..

[@networkgeekstuff9090]

Wait, how can Kh25 even work with a buddy lase as it is a beam riding weapon with a laser receiver at the tail (that is the reason those missiles have two motors slightly at the side as the laser receiver takes the whole tail section). Did I missed something here ?

[@fonesrphunny7242]

It's the Kh-25ML, which is a semi-active laser guided missile.

[@henryredbird888]

It has a switch to flip the laser from cone to beam. Then it becomes a laser tracker. Look down the front of the cockpit about halfway to the pedals. Big red switch. I think it's red.

[@Baltic_Dude]

Also, Ka-50 Night Shark never had FLIR. It had Samshit-50T LLTV system.

[@Ropetor]

The Samshit-50T is thermal it used a 2nd generation thermal imager procured from France. There was a Ka-50 with Mercury LLTV same as the Su-25T but that is a completely different system

[@Baltic_Dude]

@@Ropetor Oh didn't know they had two different systems for the Ka-50, thanks

[@Ropetor]

@@Baltic_Dude there was only 1 mockup made of the Ka-50 with Mercury. The functional night sharks Ka-50N and Ka-50Sh had thermals with the shkval or the shkval was completely replaced.

[@aaronwhite1786]

@@Ropetor That is something that would have been awesome to have on the Ka-50. Flying the Ka-50 down low wearing NVG's and then popping your head down to check your FLIR screen would have been a blast at night. Almost a hard mode compared to being able to see practically everything with the Apache.

[@Ropetor]

Haven't even started watching let's see what I get right for the lols BS2 is BORT 25 early almost 1 to 1, BORT 25 was later upgraded with the MWS and President-S that's what we are getting, President-S and MWS where first tested in BORT 26. The cockpit of BS3 is not correct it is the same as BORT 25 early, the MWS/President-S where NOT part of the ABRIS they had their own panel as the laser warning receiver, it also received an RWR. The Ka-50 never received iglas, they where first tested in the Ka-50-erdogan, they where offered for export mounted below the countermeasures pods not in the 3rd wing pilon that was only ever used on the Ka-52 and Erdogan. The Ka-50 was never exported and there is no proof that the tip mounts where ever built.

[@Ropetor]

Also is there any list of all Ka-50 airframes and their differences, or could you do a video about it? The LLTV and thermal systems installed of the Ka-50 are incredible hard to find info on or even photos

[@volkvoort]

@@Ropetor think your predictions where 50-ish percent right ;-). If I get round to the more fleshed out history I would definitely list the individual airframes, though details on stuff like #23 get exceedingly scarce. I'd only have basic info on when it was produced and if used for training or such. The Mercury, Shtolb and various FLIR turrets and pylons would form part of that, but I would need to do some digging. Like you say, they're harder to find and the codenames get a bit confused (e.g. there's the Sh, but the other one is either a Ka-50N or just a Ka-50)

[@Ropetor]

@@volkvoort I have a single photo of a Ka-50 mockup with mercury, it's extremely hard to find info on it

[@volkvoort]

@@Ropetor Ditched because it's resolution/range was apparently not great and it jammed. Think there's 1 V-80 that carried a mockup to simulate the weight/shape, and another that tested the actual device later. First 1 - 3 V-80s only.

[@Ropetor]

@@volkvoort Mercury sucked overall not only on the Ka-50. It had a range of 2 to 3km for a tank sized target compared to 8 to 10 for the samshit

[@remove1900]

Actually in russian wikipedia is written about igla missles on extra pylons, but wiki isn't a good source I guess =)

[@kolba8181]

I think this might be a good source as the Russian wiki has more information on Russian military technology.

[@MrStefan232]

buddy lasing and TGPs need better incorporated for non NATO assets

[@pinkfloyd7572]

Great video!

[@mackjsm7105]

Great vid bud!! I believe if the Russians were trained well.. these could be used very efficiently..

[@ericlyrode8724]

BS3 is without doubt a hybrid, but it does not matter to me lol.

[@silentone11111111]

How disappointing. I thought this was a real chopper.

[@volkvoort]

If you load up everything, no. If you remove the 3rd pylons, it was.

[@silentone11111111]

@@volkvoort ok. I’m just not into sci-fi. Like a yf23 mod. I’m liking your Chanel by the way 😀

[@dimitri1154]

You can thank the Russian government. Everything is super classified when it comes to aircraft. Even ones that aren't in service. Great deal of guesstimation in these modules.

[@volkvoort]

@@silentone11111111 Thanks. I'm also less a fan of the 3rd pylons, but yeah. Happy with the rest and super-happy I can choose not to take them, even if they were placed with the pylons by the mission editor.

[@satac2024]

[@volkvoort]

the great unboxing

[@Baltic_Dude]

There are photos of Ka-50's with Iglas on their outer pylon labeled "Yellow 25 c/n 800-05" which also showcased its "Balls of Fate" DIRCM President-S system. I would link it to you but I don't know how on KZbin. Can you see this link? aviadejavu.ru/Images6/AK/AK2015-07/14-2.jpg

[@volkvoort]

I just had to approve it for it to show. Yeah the DIRCM pics on 25 all appear copyrighted, so I chose not to show it, but just pop in links in the description. Note that's not a 3rd pylon - just 2 Vikhrs mounted off the outer pylon.