Mil Mi-28

Mi-28
File:Ми-28НЭ на МАКС-2007 (02).jpg
Mil Mi-28N in flight
Role	Attack helicopter
Manufacturer	Mil
First flight	January 1988
Introduction	1996 (Russia)
Status	Deliveries underway
Primary users	Russian Air Force Venezuelan Air Force
Developed from	Mil Mi-24

The Mil Mi-28 (NATO reporting name 'Havoc') is a Russian all-weather day-night military tandem two-seat anti-armour attack helicopter. It is a dedicated attack helicopter with no intended secondary transport capability, better optimized than the Mil Mi-24 for the anti-tank role. It carries a single gun in an undernose barbette, plus external loads carried on pylons beneath stub wings.

Development

Development began following completion of the Mi-24, a unique attack helicopter with transport capability, in 1972. The new design has a reduced transport capability (3 men, instead of 8), omitted the cabin, delivering better overall performance and higher top speed, important for its intended role fighting against tanks and enemy helicopters and covering helicopter landing operations. Initially, many different designs were considered, including an unconventional project with two main rotors, placed with engines on tips of wings (in perpendicular layout), and with an additional pusher propeller on the tail. In 1977, a preliminary design was chosen, in a classic single-rotor layout. It lost its similarity to the Mi-24, and even the canopies were smaller, with flat surfaces.

In 1981, a design and a mock-up were accepted. The prototype (no. 012) was first flown on November 10, 1982, followed by the second prototype (no. 022), built in 1983. In 1984 it completed the first stage of state trials, but in October 1984 the Soviet Air Force chose the more advanced Kamov Ka-50 as the new anti-tank helicopter. The Mi-28 development was continued, but given lower priority. In December 1987 Mi-28 production in Rosvertol in Rostov on Don was approved.

A Mil Mi-28N on display

In January 1988 the first Mi-28A prototype flew (no. 032). It was fitted with stronger engines and an "X" type tail rotor instead of a standard three-blade variant. This new version debuted at the Paris Air Show in June 1989. In 1991 second Mi-28A was built (no. 042). The Mi-28A program was cancelled in 1993 because it was deemed uncompetitive with the Ka-50, and in particular, it was not all-weather capable.

Mil Mi-28 nose sensors.

Yet another variant, the Mi-28N, was unveiled in 1995, the N designation meaning "night". The prototype (no. 014) flew on November 14, 1996. The most significant feature is a radar in a round cover above the main rotor, similar to that of the American AH-64D Longbow Apache. It also has improved Tor vision and an aiming device under the nose, including a TV camera and FLIR. Due to funding problems, development was interrupted. A second prototype with an improved rotor design was unveiled in March 2004 at Rosvertol.

A changed military situation after the Cold War made specialized anti-tank helicopters, like Ka-50, less useful. On the other hand, its all-weather two-seater variant Ka-52 had worse performance due to increased weight. The advantages of the Mi-28N, like all-weather action ability, lower cost, and similarity to the Mi-24, have become important. In 2003, a chief of Russian Air Forces stated that Mi-28N will become the standard Russian attack helicopter.

Mil Mi-28 gun mounting.

The first serial Mi-28N was passed to the Army. The aircraft joined the two pre-serial machines which were used for army trials. The aircraft entered service in 2006, along with the similar Ka-50/Ka-52. Up to 10 helicopters will be purchased in 2006 of total 300 to be purchased to 2015.

There is an export variant, known as Mi-28NE, and a simpler day-helicopter variant, the Mi-28D, based on the Mi-28N design, but lacking radar and FLIR.

Design

The Mi-28 has two heavily armoured cockpits, a nose full with electronic equipments, and a narrow-X tail rotor.

Its engines are two 2,200 hp Isotov TV-3-117VM (t/n 014) gas turbines. The X-type tail rotor (55 deg) has reduced noise characteristics.

While the Mi-28 is not intended for use as a transport, it does have a small passenger compartment capable of carrying three people. The planned purpose of this is to enable the rescue of downed helicopter crews.

Variants

Mil Mi-28 weapons load.

• Mi-28A - Original production anti-tank helicopter. Development done in 1998, first flight in 2003.
• Mi-28N/MMW Havoc - All weather day-and-night combat helicopter. It is equipped with a top-mounted millimeter wave radar station, IR-TV, and laser ranger. Serial Mi-28N will have two Russian Klimov TV3-117V MA-SB3 engines (2500 hp each), made in production by the Ukrainian Motor-Sich. Max take off weight of 11500 kg, max payload weight of 2350 kg.
  • Mi-28N has been entered service under the name of "Night Hunter" (Russian: Ночной охотник). A squadron of Mi-28N from Torzhok town has taken part in the joint army exercise in Belorussia in June 2006.
• Mi-28D - simplified daylight operation version. Similar to Mi-28N, but without top-mounted radar and TV-channel in sight. Unit price USD 15M..17M.
• Mi-28NAe - export version offered to North Korea.
• Mi-28L - proposed export version for Iraq.
• Mi-40 - armed transport version.

Operators

Russia

• Russian Air Force - 43 in service. (325 by 2015)
  • 344th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training, Torzhok
  • 55th Independent Helicopter Regiment, Korenovsk, has been reported to be the first planned operational unit
  • 118th Helicopter Regiment - Dmitriyevka, Oblast, Operates 21 Mi-28's with over ~80 to be on hand by 2013.

Venezuela

• Venezuelan Air Force - 4 Mi-28N/MMW to be delivered by 2009

Specifications

Mi-28A, 1987

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 pilot (rear), 1 navigator/weapons operator (front)

Performance Armament

• 1x chin-mounted 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon with 300 rounds (220° horizontal fire)
• up to 2,300 kg of disposable stores on four hardpoints, including bombs, rockets, missiles, and gunpods

Mi-28N

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and weapons operator
• Length: 17.01 m (55 ft 10 in)
• Main rotor diameter: 17.20 m (56 ft 5 in)
• Height: 3.82 m (12 ft 6 in) (without radar)
• Main rotor area: 232.4 m² (2,500 ft²)
• Empty: 7,890 kg (17,394 lb)
• Loaded: 10,400 kg (22,930 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 12,100 kg (26,700 lb)
• Powerplant: 2x Klimov TV3-117VM turboshafts, 1,640 kW (2,200 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 377 km/h (218 mph)
• Range: 460 km (286 miles)
• Service ceiling: 5,750 m (18,900 ft)
• Rate of climb: 816 m/min (2,680 ft/min)
• Main rotor loading: 45 kg/m² (9 lb/ft²)
• Power/Mass: 0.31 kW/kg (0.19 hp/lb)

Armament

• 1x chin-mounted 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon with 300 rounds (220° horizontal fire)
• up to 2,400 kg (4,400 lb) of disposable stores on four hardpoints including bombs, rockets, gunpods, anti-tank and anti-air missiles.

See also

Related development

• Mil Mi-24

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Agusta A129 Mangusta
• AH-64 Apache
• AH-1Z Viper
• CAIC WZ-10
• Denel AH-2 Rooivalk
• Eurocopter Tiger
• Kamov Ka-50/Ka-52
• HAL Light Combat Helicopter

References

The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.

External links

• aviation.ru
• Official history Template:Ru icon
• Official technical data Template:Ru icon
• Video at YouTube from airshow (aerobatic figures)