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Mi-28A

Building the third flying copy Mi-28, in construction of which were taken into account all observations of customers, and changes were made in the research-experimental models in proportion to their finishing, experimental production MVZ im. M.L.Mil beginning in 1985. The modernized helicopter was obtained in 1987, under the name Mi-28A. It differed from the first experiment models in terms of the modernized high-altitude engines TV3-117VMA with a power of 2225 hp each, by the improved instrumentation, changed with the construction of ejector exhaust devices and with the modified main rotor gearbox. At the ends it is wing they appeared containers with the cassettes of the infrared and radar passive interferences (on the first of two Mi-28 they were not established).

The tests of that modernized Mi-28A began in January 1988. They passed satisfactorily, and in the following year helicopter was for the first time demonstrated at the airshow of Le- Le Bourget in Paris and on the exhibition in Red- it was sickly near London, where it used the enormous interest of visitors. In the same year the first experiment helicopter Mi-28 for the first time officially was demonstrated also in itself on the native land during the aviation holiday in Tushino.

In January 1991, the test program was joined the second Mi-28A, assembled by experimental production MVZ. In September 1993, in the course of general military studies under Gorokhovtsom the helicopters lustrously demonstrated their flight characteristics and combat superiority over competitors. The expediency of the selection of two-place layout became obvious for all. The development of one-place combat helicopters was ended.

The Mi-28A obtained the appreciation both of domestic and foreign specialists. It completely corresponded to its designation and exceeded all helicopters of analogous class in many indices. Piloting and maneuverability characteristics are unique and guarantee the high degree of viability in the air battle. With exception of its "junior brother" of the training- sport Mi-34, the combat Mi-28A is the only helicopter in Russia, capable of carrying out the figures of the aerobatics. On May 6, 1993. test pilot Karapetyan for the first time carried out the Mi-28 "the Nesterov's loop", and after several days - "barrel". Joint stock company Rostvertol began the preparation for the series production "flying tank" and in 1994. it approached building of the first series model due to its own means.

The Russian combat helicopters interested the management of the armed forces of many foreign states. In autumn 1990 with Iraq there was concluded agreement about sale of helicopters Mi-28, and subsequently also about the joint production of these helicopters (Mi-28L - license) in Iraq, but the Gulf War prevented these plans. In the of autumn 1995 the Defense Ministry of Sweden selected among different types of combat helicopters the Russian Mi-28A and American An-64 "Apaches" for conducting the comparative tests. The Russian helicopter completely ran the test program, including field service firings, and it showed itself "very reliable and that well fitted out to the field conditions".

In 1993, after the end of the first stage official tests Mi-28A, there was obtained the preliminary conclusion of customer about the production of the helicopters. Military test pilots approached the mastery of the Mi-28A. However, work was tightened because of the insufficient financing.

The equipment of the competing helicopters by this time had time to become obsolete. In connection with this, M.V.Vaynberg, who had become the design project leader OF MVZ, from the agreement of customer made the decision to end development Mi-28A on the final stage official tests and to concentrate all forces and financial possibilities during the development of combat helicopter Mi-28N ("N" - night) - of twenty-four hour and all-weather, with the fundamentally new integrated complex onboard equipment for the fifth generation. The correctness of the solution accepted confirmed the tests of helicopter Mi-28A in Sweden in October 1995. European testers produced to the Russian combat vehicle only requirement - the presence in the future of the systems, which made it possible to conduct military operations under the nighttime conditions.