The Kamov Ka-31 "Helix" series of naval helicopters originated from a requirement within the Soviet Navy for a temporary Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platform, as attention and resources were directed towards the proposed specialized Antonov An-71 "Madcap". The An-71 was intended to operate directly from the flight decks of the limited Soviet carrier fleet, but plans for it were scrapped when interest shifted towards the Yakovlev Yak-44 alternative. The Yak-44, a fixed-wing design for carrier-based operations, was also abandoned due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. While three An-71 prototypes were constructed, only a full-scale mockup of the Yak-44 was ever produced. This series of events led to the adaptation of the reliable Kamov Ka-27 "Helix" anti-submarine helicopter into the "Ka-29" variant for naval use. Development work on the Ka-29 began in 1980.