Mil Mi-28From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mi-28 Havoc

Mil Mi-28 on display

Type Attack helicopter

Manufacturer Mil

Primary user Russian Army

Developed from Mil Mi-24

The Mil Mi-28 (NATO reporting name Havoc) is a Russian tandem two-seat anti-armour attackhelicopter. It is a dedicated attack helicopter with no intended secondary transport capability, betteroptimized than the Mil Mi-24 for the anti-tank role. It carries a single gun in an undernose barbette, plusexternal loads carried on pylons beneath stub wings.

Development

Development began following completion of the Mi-24, a unique attack helicopter with transportcapablity, in 1972. The new design was inspired by Mi-24[citation needed] minus the transport capability,omitted the cabin, delivering better overall performance and higher top speed, important for its intendedrole 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 additional pusher propeller onthe tail. In 1977, a preliminary design was chosen, in a classic single-rotor layout. It lost its similarity tothe 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 November10, 1982, followed by the second prototype (no. 022), built in 1983. In 1984 it completed the first stageof state trials, but in October 1984 the Soviet Air Force chose the more advanced Kamov Ka-50 as thenew anti-tank helicopter. The Mi-28 development was continued, but given lower priority. In December1987 Mi-28 production in Rosvertol in Rostov on Don was approved.

Mil Mi-28A.

In January 1988 the first Mi-28A prototype flew (no. 032). It was fitted with stronger engines and "X"type tail rotor instead of a standard three-blade variant. This new version debuted at the Paris Air Showin June 1989. In 1991 second Mi-28A was built (no. 042). The Mi-28A program was cancelled in 1993because it was deemed uncompetitive with the Ka-50, and in particular, it was not all-weather capable.In 1990 the design bureau signed an agreement to export Mi-28A parts to Iraq and for assembly as theMi-28L, but these plans were disrupted by the Gulf War.

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

Mil Mi-28 gun mounting.

A changed military situation after the Cold War made specialized anti-tank helicopters, like Ka-50, lessuseful. On the other hand, its all-weather two-seater variant Ka-52 had worse performance due toincreased weight. The advantages of the Mi-28N, like all-weather action ability, lower cost, similarity tothe Mi-24, have become important. In 2003, a chief of Russian Air Forces stated that Mi-28N willbecome the standard Russian attack helicopter.[1]

The first serial Mi-28N was passed to the Army.[2] The aircraft will join the two pre-serial machineswhich are used for army trials. The aircraft, along with Ka-50/Ka-52 has entered service.[3] Up to 10helicopters will be purchased in 2006 [4] of total 67 to be purchaised to 2015.[5]

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

Description

Mil Mi-28 nose sensors.

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

Two 2200hp Isotov TV-3-117VM. (t/n 014) X-type tail rotor (55 deg) to reduce noise.

While the Mi-28 is not intended for use as a transport, it does have a small passenger compartmentcapable of carrying three persons. The planned purpose of this is to enable the rescue of downedhelicopter crews.

Variants

Mil Mi-28 weapons load.

Mi-28A - tank killer. original development. lost competition to Ka-50. 1998 -development. 2004 - first flights.

Mi-28N/MMW Havoc - All weather day-and-night combat helicopter. It isequipped with a top-mounted millimeter wave radar station, IR-TV, and laserranger. Serial Mi-28N will have two TV3-117V MA-SB3 engines (2500 hp each),max take off mass of 11500 kg, max payload mass of 2350 kg, max horizontalspeed 324 km/h, cruise speed of 280 km/h, static ceiling of 3700 m, range of 500km exceeding AH-64 in all these parameters. Mi-28N carry 9M120 and 9A2200missiles, 30 mm turret mounted cannon with 250 rounds, 80 mm S-8 and 130 mmrockets, bombs, and napalm tanks. First aircraft cost US$15 million, next serialaircraft will cost about US$12 million (export price).

Mi-28N has been entered service under the name of "Night Hunter" (Russian:Ночнойохотник). A squadron of Mi-28N from Torzhok town has taken part inthe joint army excersize in Belorussia in June 2006.

Mi-28D - simplified daylight operation version. Similar to Mi-28N, but withouttop-mounted radar and TV-channel in sight. Unit price USD 15M..17M.

Mi-28NAe - export version? offered to Korea. Mi-40 - fighter/transport version (?)

Operators

Russia

o Russian Army

Specifications (Mi-28A, 1987)

General characteristics

Crew: 1 pilot (rear), 1 navigator/weapons operator (front) Length: 17.01 m (55 ft 9 in) Rotor diameter: 17.20 m (56 ft 5 in) Height: 3.82 m (12 ft 7 in) Empty weight: 8,095 kg (17,845 lb) Loaded weight: 10,400 kg (22,930 lb) Max takeoff weight: 11,500 kg (25,705 lb) Powerplant: 2× Klimov TV3-117VMA turboshaft, 1,450 kW (1,950 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 300 km/h (187 mph) Range: 1,100 km (640 mi) Service ceiling: 5,800 m (19,000 ft)

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