Mil Mi-28 Attack Helicopter

 

Mil Mi-28

Mil Mi-28 "Havoc" Attack Helicopter

The Mil Mi-28 (NATO reporting name: "Havoc") is a dedicated all-weather, day-night attack helicopter designed and manufactured by the Russian company Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. Developed as a successor to the Mi-24 "Hind", the Mi-28 is built primarily for anti-armor warfare but can also engage enemy personnel, fortifications, and low-flying aerial threats.

Unlike the Mi-24, which has limited troop transport capability, the Mi-28 is a pure attack helicopter, featuring tandem seating for the pilot and weapons operator, heavily armored fuselage, and advanced avionics for combat in various environments.

Specifications

• Crew: 2 (1 pilot, 1 WSO)
• Length: 17.01 m (55 ft 10 in) excluding rotors
• Wingspan: 4.88 m (16 ft 0 in) stub wings
• Height: 3.82 m (12 ft 6 in) to top of rotor head
• Empty weight: 8,590 kg (18,938 lb) equipped
• Gross weight: 10,700 kg (23,589 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 11,500 kg (25,353 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 1,337 kg (2,948 lb) / 1,720 L (450 US gal; 380 imp gal) internal fuel + up to 445 kg (981 lb) / 571 L (151 US gal; 126 imp gal) in 4x drop tanks
• Powerplant: 2 × Klimov VK-2500 turboshaft engines, 1,636 kW (2,194 hp) each
• Main rotor diameter: 17.2 m (56 ft 5 in)
• Main rotor area: 232.35 m² (2,501.0 sq ft)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 320 km/h (200 mph, 170 kn)
• Cruise speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn) max
• Range: 435 km (270 mi, 235 nmi) with 5% reserve
• Combat range: 200 km (120 mi, 110 nmi) 10-minute loiter with 5% reserve
• Ferry range: 1,100 km (680 mi, 590 nmi) 4x drop tanks with 5% reserve
• Endurance: 2 hours
• Service ceiling: 5,700 m (18,700 ft)
  
• Hover ceiling OGE: 3,600 m (11,811 ft)
• g limits: +3 -0.5
• Rate of climb: 13.6 m/s (2,680 ft/min) max at sea level
• Disk loading: 49.5 kg/m² (10.1 lb/sq ft) max
• Power/mass: 0.31 kW/kg (0.19 hp/lb)

Armament

• Guns: 1× chin-mounted 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon with 250 rounds (±110° horizontal fire)
• Hardpoints: Two pylons under each stub wing to mount bombs, rockets, missiles, and gun pods. Main armament configurations include:
• 16 Ataka-V anti-tank missiles and 40 S-8 rockets, or
• 16 Ataka-V anti-tank missiles, and 10 S-13 rockets, or
• 16 Ataka-V anti-tank missiles and two 23 mm UPK-23-250 gun pods each containing a GSh-23L with 250 rounds.
• Other ordnance: 9K121 Vikhr, and 9M123 Khrizantema anti-tank missiles (9M123VM variant for any Mi-28 variant have fire-control radar, with a bonus of millimeter-wave radar ACLOS missile guidance), LMUR, 8 Igla-V and Vympel R-73 air-to-air missiles, 2 KMGU-2 mine dispensers, and an unknown variant of 9K333 Verba air-to-air missile

Design and Features

mil-mi-28-attack-helicopter

1. Cockpit & Crew

   • Tandem-seating configuration: The front seat is for the gunner/weapons officer, and the rear seat is for the pilot.
   • Armored glass canopy to withstand small arms fire and shrapnel.
   • Crash-resistant seats to protect the crew during emergency landings.

2. Weapons & Combat Capabilities

   • Primary armament: A 30mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon (same as used on the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle), mounted on a chin turret.
   • Missile Systems:
     • 9M120 Ataka (AT-9 Spiral-2) anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), capable of penetrating modern armor.
     • 9M114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) for precision strikes against armored vehicles.
     • Air-to-air missiles: Igla-V or R-73 for engaging helicopters and low-flying aircraft.
   • Unguided Rockets: Multiple launchers for 80mm S-8 and 122mm S-13 rockets.
   • Gun Pods: Can be fitted with additional machine guns or cannons for increased firepower.

3. Armor & Protection

   • The fuselage and cockpit are reinforced with ceramic and steel armor, protecting against 23mm caliber rounds.
   • Main rotor and tail rotor have reinforced construction to withstand battle damage.
   • Equipped with infrared jamming, radar warning receivers, and flare/chaff dispensers for protection against enemy missiles.

4. Avionics & Sensors

• Advanced helmet-mounted display (HMD) for targeting and aiming weapons.
• Millimeter-wave radar (on Mi-28N variant) for detecting and tracking enemy targets in all weather conditions.
• Electro-optical targeting system with thermal imaging and night vision.
• Data-linking capabilities to coordinate attacks with other aircraft or ground units.

Variants

1. Mi-28A: Initial production model with daytime-only capability.
2. Mi-28N ("Night Hunter") – Most widely used version with an advanced radar, night vision, and all-weather capabilities.
3. Mi-28UB: Dual-control training version with additional pilot controls.
4. Mi-28NM: Upgraded variant with improved radar, digital avionics, and extended range weapons.

mil-mi-28-attack-helicopters

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Operational History

• Used primarily by the Russian Aerospace Forces and exported to Iraq, Algeria, and Venezuela.
• Saw combat use in the Syrian Civil War and counter-terrorism operations.
• Frequently used for close air support, anti-armor strikes, and reconnaissance missions.

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Comparison with Other Attack Helicopters

Feature	Mi-28	AH-64 Apache
Speed	300 km/h	293 km/h
Range	435 km	476 km
Main Gun	30mm (2A42)	30mm (M230 Chain Gun)
Missiles	Ataka, Shturm	Hellfire, Hydra
Radar	Millimeter-wave (Mi-28N)	Longbow Fire Control Radar

While the AH-64 Apache has superior electronics and sensor integration, the Mi-28 is known for its durability, armor, and raw firepower.

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Conclusion

The Mil Mi-28 "Havoc" is a formidable attack helicopter, excelling in heavily armored ground-attack roles. Its night-fighting capabilities, all-weather performance, and powerful weaponry make it a key asset in modern warfare. While it may not have the same battlefield networking sophistication as the AH-64 Apache, it compensates with its rugged build, firepower, and survivability.