Missiles launched by a combat helicopter at journalists. The Ministry of Defense issued a denial
Video: RBC
In the State Unitary Enterprise Sevastopol Aviation Enterprise, where they are modernizing Ka-52 helicopters, RBC could not name the reasons for what happened. “The commission is looking into why unguided rockets went off because of the main switch,” Stanislav Tkachiboroda, chief engineer and technical director of the State Unitary Enterprise Sevastopol Aviation Plant, told RBC. “Until now, such cases have not occurred in my practice,” Tkachiboroda noted.
Ka-52- Russian combat attack helicopter, designed to destroy enemy personnel and equipment on the battlefield. Equipped with the Samshit-E optical-electronic system, which allows you to select a target. "Samshit-E" consists of a thermal imager, a laser target designator and a laser beam direction finder. The vehicle is also equipped with the Arbalet-52 radar, one of the channels of which is used to search for ground targets and allows the helicopter to maneuver at low altitudes at high speed. Depending on the combat mission received, the helicopter is equipped with various types of weapons at the suspension points: six NURS blocks, gun containers, R-73 and Igla-V missiles. The helicopter is armed with a 30-mm movable cannon. In total, the helicopter can carry 2000 kg of various missiles and bombs.
A malfunction in the weapon control system was the reason for the spontaneous firing of the missiles; commission experts are considering this version as a priority, a source familiar with the investigation told RBC. “They are studying means of objective control: parameters of flight recorders, as well as recording of crew conversations. Then test flights will be carried out, repeating the events of September 16,” the source said. According to him, the version of a malfunction in the weapon control system arose after the pilots described their sequence of actions during the flight in explanatory notes.
“For the Ka-52, the main switch is the fuse for the entire weapons circuit,” says test pilot first class Yuri Khudyakov. To fire a shot, the pilot uses the main switch and then selects the weapon type, he said. “If the missiles discharged immediately after the switch was used, then we are talking about a malfunction in the helicopter’s weapon control system. Most likely, the cause of the incident was stray currents: a random impulse that activated the missiles,” Yuri Khudyakov is sure.
Based on the results of the inspection
Representatives of the military prosecutor's office are studying the circumstances of the incident, a source familiar with the investigation told RBC. If it is proven that the incident occurred as a result of a malfunction in the Ka-52 weapons system, then the culprits most likely will not be identified, the interlocutor believes. “The conclusions of the special commission will be sent to the airline involved in arming the Ka-52, along with a proposal to eliminate the technical malfunction,” the source is confident. “The pilots were making their third approach to the target, and before that the weapon worked properly, this means that an unpredictable failure occurred, therefore, there can be no talk of any responsibility for the pilots,” said a source familiar with the investigation materials.
A criminal case will be opened against the officials responsible for the Zapad 2017 exercise if it can be proven that the incident occurred as a result of their negligence. This is stated by RBC's interlocutor, who is familiar with the audit materials. The Zapad-2017 exercises are taking place in Russia and Belarus. The incident occurred on the territory of the Western Military District. The district's troops are commanded by Colonel General Andrei Kartapolov.
A shocking video has appeared online showing how Ka-52 combat helicopters mistakenly launched missiles at civilians and their cars at the Luzhsky training ground near St. Petersburg. This incident shocked the public with its cruelty and tragedy.
According to the website, two Ka-52 helicopters calmly flew to the target during joint exercises with Belarus “Zapad-2017”. However, at some point, according to the plan, the weapon circuits were supposed to turn on without firing. At some point, the system failed and an unauthorized launch of air-to-ground missiles occurred. At least two civilian cars exploded, two people were seriously injured and are currently in hospital, reports 66.ru. According to preliminary data, journalists in the area were injured. Their identities have not been revealed. It is also unknown on what day this tragedy occurred. The video shows how the filmer tries to run away after the explosion, but falls exhausted, probably from his injuries.
According to representatives of the armed forces, joint exercises with the specified helicopter took place on September 17 at the Luzhsky training ground. According to the exercise plan, the helicopters practiced armed reconnaissance missions, as well as missile strikes against targets on the ground. The second task is to cover ground troops from the air.
Anonymous sources report that everything that happened was a training session right before the visit of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. It is unknown how the president reacted to the incident. In addition, the Zapad-2017 exercises themselves caused a wide resonance in the political arena.
Many European countries called the exercises a direct simulation of an armed conflict with countries hostile to Russia. According to official data, 70 aircraft and helicopters will participate in the exercises until September 20.
Thus, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite openly admitted that the exercises in one form or another simulate a real conflict with countries belonging to the NATO bloc, and “hidden scenarios” can be traced between Russia and Belarus in political terms. According to Dali, this is reflected in the fact that the exercises themselves are aggressive towards other countries.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed the erroneous launch of missiles from a combat helicopter, but denied the presence of casualties.
During the Russian-Belarusian military exercises “Zapad-2017” near St. Petersburg, a helicopter accidentally fired missiles at spectators located near the Luzhsky training ground, reports the portal 66.ru.
According to the publication's interlocutor, the incident occurred the day before, but the exact date when the emergency occurred is unknown. The portal's source suggested that the launch of an air-to-ground missile from a Ka-52 helicopter occurred accidentally.
“They were flying towards the target, there were 500 meters left, according to instructions on the combat path, the weapons circuits were turned on, they turned them on, but something shorted there, and the missiles went off on their own. The fragments spread widely, at least two cars were burned, two people were seriously injured, they are now in the hospital. It was training before some kind of show. Most likely, journalists were injured,” the source told 66.ru.
The day before, on September 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Luzhsky training ground in the Leningrad region.
The Zapad-2017 exercises take place on September 14 and take place at training grounds in Belarus, as well as in the Leningrad, Pskov and Kaliningrad regions of Russia. More than 12 thousand military personnel take part in them. During the exercises, the troops will have to practice tactical episodes with live firing, extensive use of forces and means of aviation and air defense troops.
According to the scenario of the exercises, the troops of Russia and Belarus are opposed to a coalition of fictional Western countries Veishnoria, Vesbaria and Lubenia, which plan to destabilize the situation on the territory of Belarus.
Video: Alexey Zemlyakov / YouTube
Accidental missile launch allegedly occurred during the Zapad-2017 exercises
The joint strategic exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus “Zapad-2017”, during which the incident allegedly occurred, are taking place from September 14 to 20. On September 17, the press service reported that during exercises, Western Military District helicopters demonstrated tactics for destroying a highly mobile enemy from ambushes.
A Lenta.ru source confirmed the accidental launch of Alligator missiles
As sources involved in organizing the Zapad-2017 exercise told Lenta.ru, the incident actually took place. On the evening of September 18, at the Luga artillery range, during the passage of two Ka-52 combat helicopters, one of them fired an unauthorized salvo with two ATGMs. One of the shells hit the ground near a civilian car parking lot. Two victims are known, but the nature of their injuries is not specified. According to some sources, both received injuries and bruises during the fall, according to others, both had minor shrapnel wounds.
According to the source, the scene of the incident was immediately cordoned off by military police, and some events for guests and for journalists covering the maneuvers were canceled without explanation. In the morning, a conversation was held with the military personnel - the officers demanded that the incident be kept secret. However, immediately after it, a video of the incident went online.
Currently, investigators from the military investigation department are working at the training ground and at the air unit; the helicopter itself is sealed and is located at one of the sites. The arrival of a special commission is expected.
A certificate appeared on social networks, presumably describing the moment of the incident.
“The circumstances of the SAI. On September 16, 2017, the couple of Lieutenant Colonel A.V. Smakhtin (led senior lieutenant Volchkov A.S.) took off from the air. Pushkin at 14:00, flight to the Luzhsky training ground according to Ex. 456 KBP AA-2012 "test flight of a pair to perform fire missions." At 14:47 Moscow time, after receiving permission from the range control center, during the third approach on the combat course, H = 50 m, V = 200 km/h, when the main switch was turned on, a spontaneous descent of the S-8 com. slave couple. Crew commander, senior lieutenant Volchkov A.S. reported to the test site control room, stopped the task, and completed it at the airfield. Pushkin landing without consequences. “On the ground, 3 people were slightly injured and 2 cars were damaged.”
Photo: page “Accidents and emergencies | St. Petersburg" on VKontakte
The Ministry of Defense issued a denial
The Ministry of Defense stated that the footage leaked online has nothing to do with the Zapad-2017 exercises. “All messages on social networks about shots fired at a crowd of journalists and a large number of seriously wounded are a deliberate provocation or someone’s personal stupidity,” representatives of the Western Military District (WMD) are quoted as saying.
According to the military, the video recorded another case when helicopter crews practiced hitting ground targets as part of a tactical flight exercise. “The guidance system of one of the helicopters erroneously captured the target. As a result of being hit by an unguided missile, one of the trucks without people was damaged,” the Western Military District commented on the incident. The military department did not say where and when the unauthorized launch occurred.
The Alligator incident near St. Petersburg is not the first in recent times
On September 7, a tank ammunition exploded at a training ground in the Leningrad region. One soldier was killed and five were injured. The incident occurred during scheduled tank firing. The shell deviated from its trajectory when it touched the ground and exploded near the shelter of military engineers. The victims are provided with medical assistance. The Western Military District commission is working at the scene of the incident.
Due to a failure of military equipment, two people ended up in the hospital. Most likely, the incident occurred shortly before Vladimir Putin’s visit to the training ground. At the next stage of the Russian-Belarusian military exercises "Zapad-2017" an emergency occurred: at the Luzhsky training ground near St. Petersburg there was an involuntary launch of air-to-ground missiles from a Ka-52 helicopter.
“They were flying towards the target, there were 500 meters left, according to instructions on the combat path, the weapons circuits were turned on, they turned them on, but something shorted there, and the missiles went off on their own. The fragments spread widely, at least two cars were burned, two people were seriously injured, they are now in the hospital. It was training before some kind of show. Most likely, journalists were injured,” an informed source told 66.RU.
The exact date when the emergency occurred is unknown. “It happened yesterday or the day before yesterday,” our interlocutor said. Let us note, according to the press service of the Western Military District, on September 17, “as part of the joint strategic exercise “Zapad-2017” at the Luzhsky training ground, the crews of the Mi-28N and Ka-52 attack helicopters of the army aviation of the Western Military District practiced aerial reconnaissance tasks, missile strike on ground targets and air cover for a ground group of troops.”
Press service of the Western Military District:
- During the aerial reconnaissance, the flight crew practiced the most difficult elements of flight training - flights at extremely low altitudes while skirting the terrain. The pilots operated in pairs and flights, performing flights in bearing formation at established intervals and distances. The leading crew had to, upon detecting targets on the ground, distribute targets for each of the trailing crews for the most effective delivery of an air strike. The pilots launched unguided missiles and also used on-board cannon weapons, destroying more than 20 targets simulating columns of equipment, firing positions, fortifications and other objects of the mock enemy.
The joint strategic exercise "Zapad-2017" of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus takes place from September 14 to 20. Yesterday, September 18, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu visited the Luzhsky training ground.
Kremlin press service:
- The Zapad-2017 exercises take place on September 14–20 at training grounds in Russia and Belarus, involving about 12.7 thousand military personnel, about 70 aircraft and helicopters, up to 680 units of military equipment, including about 250 tanks, up to 200 guns, jets multiple launch rocket systems and mortars, as well as 10 ships.
The Russian-Belarusian exercises caused concern among the leaders of neighboring states. Thus, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said that the maneuvers simulate a real conflict with NATO countries, and criticized the “hidden scale and scenarios of the exercises.” This speaks “of the aggressive nature of the Zapad exercises,” Grybauskaite complained to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.