Mi-28N Night Hunter
The Mi-28N is to become the basic shock helicopter of Russian Army Aviation. The need for all-weather helicopters generated the purchase of Mi-28N. The Mi-28N is based on the Mi-28A, a daylight helicopter first flown in December 1982. The Mi-28N is equipped with capacities for night combat, and 8 years after after the Mi-28A was initially cancelled came the launching of the study devoted to this version.
In comparison with the AH-64D Longbow Apache, the 10.5-ton Mi-28N is some 2.5 tons heavier, partly due to its more powerful cannon. In general the two helicopters have similar flight performance. Two Klimov TV-3-117 engines of 2,200 hp each allow the Russian aircraft to show a maximum level speed of 300 km/h and maximum climb at sea-level of 13.6 meters per second. The Mi-28N and Kamov Ka-50 were in a competion to fulfil the Russian Army Aviation requirement for a night-capable anti-tank helicopter, a replacement to the Mi-24.
The State Tests of the latest Russian all-weather helicopter Mi-28N called the Night Hunter started on March 31, 2004. Nickolai Semikopenko, the Managing Director of the Closed Joint-Stock Company "Upravlauschaya kompaniya "Permsky motorostroitelniy kompleks", called them "a new phase in gearbox and transmission production". The new machine was developed thanks to joint efforts of the Rostov Helicopter-Production Center and the Moscow Helicopter Plant named after Mil. Reductor-PM is one of the major companies of the Perm Engine Building Complex and supplies full set of transmission for this unique helicopter. Alexander Burutin, the Russian President Councilor on military production issues and state defense orders, said that the Russian Federation Military Air Forces will be armed with the first helicopters of Mi-28N in two or three years. These will replace the famous Mi-24 called "the flying tank".
As of early 2004 Russia's Air Force was expected to purchase 50 new Mi-28N shock helicopters by 2010. Ten were delivered in 2006 and Russia should have 67 in 2015 of them. In April 2004 it was reported that the Ministry of Defense of Russia intended to order 300 new Mi-28N "Night Hunter" combat helicopters. Russian Air Force Commander, Army General Vladimir Mikhailov informed reporters about this after flight trials of the new machine at "Rostvertol" PLC. "There are no analogs of this machine in the world, all vendor items of this machine are entirely of Russian origin", - Commander underlined. According to him, 50 of the helicopters were planned to be delivered to Armed Forces by 2010.
"Mi-28N helicopter development program is the largest fulfilled aviation domestic program, in which the leading Russian military-industrial complex enterprises together with the leading designer have taken a part", - informed in his turn Boris Slyusar, Director General of "Rostvertol" PLC. According to him, at present, the startup batch of these helicopters was put into production, and their assembly is carried out in workshops of the Enterprise. Alexander Burutin, the Russian President Adviser, who presented in Rostov during trials of "Night Hunter", informed that new samples of Mi-28N helicopters will be put into inventory of Russian Army in two years.
"It is planned that the first combat samples of Mi-28N helicopter shall be on inventory of Russian Army in two-three years, which shall replace the famous Mi-24 called as flying tank", - Burutin said. According to him, the principal distinction of Mi-28N from Mi-28 combat helicopter lies in that the new machine is equipped with entirely new integrated complex of airborne equipment developed by domestic designers. "The principle of its combat application is the night flight at extremely low altitudes", - Burutin underlined.
"At present, Mi-28N is the only helicopter in the world which is capable to perform flight at the altitude from five meters with terrain following round-the-clock in automatic mode. It allows to apply it successfully at seats of war differed by richness of anti-aircraft army defense means", - the Presidential Adviser said.
According to him, the newest powerful armament is envisaged in Mi-28N arsenal. " It is "Ataka" supersonic high-precision missile, which hits battle tanks having dynamic protection, as well as aerial targets. "Igla" supersonic air-to-air missile of "fire-and-forget" type. Gun mount with 2A-42 gun of 30mm caliber. Due to selective loading of the gun, the crew can select the cartridge type directly during the battle. Pilot performs aiming with the help of helmet-mounted target designation system", - Burutin said.
"It is impossible not to mention also advantages of the developed helicopter in the field of the machine combat vitality and crew safety provision. Crew cabin is of tandem type. The cabin is entirely armored, the glazing withstands direct hitting by bullets of 12.7mm caliber", - he added.
"Today we can speak about suspension of system economical crisis and revival of defense industry", - Burutin thinks. According to him, in 2004, the state defense order is increased by 20% in comparison with 2003, the new state armament program is being developed which shall also envisage the putting of Mi-28N helicopter into inventory.
In mid-September 2004, Russia announced that the Mi-28N attack helicopter was ready for series production and that first metal would be cut at the Rostov-on-Don plant very soon. The first production model helicopter was to be flown in mid 2005 and, in the second half of that year, was to be delivered to the Russian Air Force. At that time, by 2008 (2010 by some estimates), 50 Mi-28N helicopters were expected to be in service. Ultimately, the Russian Air Force wanted 300 Mi-28Ns by 2012, at which point the current force of modernized Mi-24PN helicopters was to gradually be withdrawn from service.
In June 2006, by the decision of the AF Commander-in-Chief, approved by the Minister of Defense, two Mi-28N helicopters - first OGT -1 prototype helicopter and first pre-production helicopter 01-01, assembled already at the "Rostvertol", took part in war games in Byelorussia, notwithstanding that the joint state tests had not been completed yet.
In September 2007, the Mi-28N was adopted by the Russian Air Force, which received the first four helicopters in 2008. In October 2007 Mi-28N combat helicopter (Night Hunter) successfully passed the first stage of State tests with representatives of Russian Air Force, Rostvertol PLC and Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant involved. The test results proved high level of Mi-28N technical reliability, unfailing operation of helicopter main components and mechanisms, what finally shows that all set up requirements were satisfied.
As of late 2007 the air force was meant to receive around 50 Mi-28Ns by 2010, to replace the ageing Mi-24 Hind in the attack role. The aim is to replace all the Mi-24s by 2015, which will require the acquisition of a further 200 plus helicopters. The first four Mi-28Ns were due to be delivered to the Torzhok military helicopter tactics and training school during 2008.
Mi-28NE
The Mi-28NE round-the-clock operation combat helicopter is the export version of a new Russian attack helicopter Mi-28N. The Mi-28NE is a two-seat helicopter (pilot and navigator/gunner) of classic single-rotor configuration with five-blade main rotor, "scissors" type tail rotor, all-movable stabilizer and tail-wheel non-retractable landing gear. Armament complex and optional fuel tanks are fitted on the sling under the wing. The Mi-28NE helicopter is intended for search and destruction of tanks, armoured vehicles, low-speed air targets and enemy troops.
The helicopter is equipped with the following types of armament for accomplishing the above mentioned missions: Non-removable NPPU-28N 30 mm turret-mounted gun (with basic load of 250 projectiles); Two universal UPK-23-250 gun pods with GSh-23L 23 mm gun and basic load of 250 projectiles per each pod; 9-A2313 Ataka-B antitank missile control system with 9M120, 9M120F, 9A-2200 guided missiles (for total of 16 missiles); 'Igla' guided missiles with infrared homing heads (for total of 8 missiles); · 80 mm S-8 unguided rockets in B8V20-A pods (up to 4 pods); 122 mm S-13 unguided rockets in B13L1 pods (up to 4 pods); KMGU-2 unified small-size cargo containers (up to 4 units).The helicopter is fitted with onboard avionics providing the armament application and accomplishment of pilotage and navigation missions in the daytime and at night in ordinary and adverse weather conditions at extreme low altitudes with computer-aided terrain following flight.
Onboard avionics also provides for powerplant and other systems control; crew voice warning; intercommunication between helicopters and with ground stations; crew intercommunications and voice recording. The onboard avionics incorporates the following: navigation system, integrated flight system, onboard computer system, information management system, multifunctional data display system, weapons control system, survey sighting station, IR imaging station, airborne radar, airborne missile control system, display and sight helmet system, night vision goggles, communications aids, radar and laser illumination warning system, identification radio equipment. Specific structure provides for high survivability of the helicopter. Crew survivability during emergency landing at vertical speeds up to 12 m/sec is assured by means of passive protection system with energy absorbing structural elements (landing gears, seats, fuselage elements.)
The Mi-28NE helicopters are offered to customers as equipped with twp versions of engine - VK-2500 -to be used in areas with high mountains and torrid climate, as well as TV3-117??? which are optimal for areas with moderate climate.
South Korean planned to make a decision by 2004 concerning the purchase 40 attack helicopters for the amount of up to $1.8 billion. Initially the two Russian helicopters Mi-28NE and Ka-52 were offered in the tender. Promexport sponsored the former and Rosvoorouzhenie sponsored the later. After the merger of Rosvoorouzhenie and Promexport in November 2000 into a single company Rosoboronexport the Kamov helicopter was favored in the choice for the bid. But South Korea dropped the AH-X plan, and decided to develop and produce [with foreign partners] the KMH Korean Multi-Purpose Helicopter.
Several foreign countries express desire to acquire Russia's new helicopters Mi-28NE. According to "Flight International" Russia probably was going to take part with its Mi-28NE in a resumed strike helicopter Tender by Turkey. According to new 2004 plans Turkey intended to procure 50 helicopters directly from foreign helicopter manufacturers.
The Rostov Helicopter Production Complex Rostvertol plc showed the export version of a new Russian attack helicopter Mi-28N at the Airshow China-2006 held in China. "The Rostvertol is active in the serial-production programme for the Mi-28NE. This aircraft is already known in many countries as the Night Hunter. Its NATO designation is Havoc. Today, we are offering the Mi-28NE for the supply to China and other countries", - Vadim Barannikov, deputy director-general of Rostvertol said to the Interfax-AVN defence news agency.
Caracas would like to purchase at least 10 Mil Mi-28NE Havoc (Night Hunter) attack helicopters that will beef up the 10 Mi-35M Hind helicopters currently serving with the Venezuelan Air Force. Deliveries under the $200 million contract are due to start in late 2009. The Venezuelan Air Force wants to include the Mi-28s in its 15th special Operations Air Group. They will replace the obsolete Rockwell OV-10 Bronco turboprop-driven light attack and observation aircraft purchased in the early 1970s. Venezuela will become the first country to receive Mi-28NE helicopters. In early 2008, Andrei Shibitov, CEO of the holding company Russian Helicopters, said Moscow was negotiating their sale "with more than three countries." Earlier the media reported that the Mi-28NEs could be exported to two Latin American countries and Saudi Arabia.
By early 2008 MMZ is already doing works in various directions of perfecting Mi-28NE (the export variant of the helicopter) in the interests of the potential foreign customers. According to the general director of the plant Andrey Shibitov, practical activities on modernization were planned for 2009. In particular, the modernized helicopter Mi-28EM will have a newer radar station and aiming systems.
