Night Hunter: Russia’s New Helicopter Gunship Grabs Int’l Attention

The first batch of Mi-28NE Night Hunter attack helicopters has rolled off the assembly line at a Rosvertol plant in Rostov-on-Don, Gazeta.ru wrote on Thursday.

The Mi-28NE Night Hunter, an export version of the Mil-28N helicopter developed by Rostvertol, a manufacturing arm of Russian Helicopters is an all-weather, day-night, military tandem, two-seat anti-armor attack helicopter with enhanced combat capabilities against land, air and sea-based targets.

A number of Mi-28NEs are currently on combat duty in Iraq and are now being eyed also by Brazil, Vietnam and several North African countries.

The Mi-28NE Night Hunter (NATO reporting name “Havoc”) can be deployed to identify and destroy enemy battle tanks, armored vehicles, personnel, boats, small naval vessels, and low-speed and low-altitude aircraft. It can also be used to destroy protected sites and defense installations.

The Mi-28NE boasts an integrated electronic combat system. Other modifications include: a new main gearbox for transmitting higher power to the rotor; new high-efficiency blades with swept-shaped tips; and an engine fuel injection control system.

The main sensors of the integrated electronic combat system are the microwave radar antenna, mounted above the rotor head, and a forward-looking infrared system.

The system displays the helicopter location on a moving map indicator, and flight, systems and target information on liquid crystal displays. The crew is equipped with night-vision goggles.

The pilot uses a helmet-mounted target designator, which allocates the target to the navigator's surveillance and fire control system. The navigator/weapons officer is then able to deploy guided weapons or guns against the target.

The targeting system follows the direction of the pilot's eyes.

The Mi-28NE Night Hunter is powered by two VK-2500 turboshaft engines each generating maximum take-off power of 2,200hp.

The helicopter can climb at a rate of 13.6m/s and has a service ceiling of 5,600m. The cruise and maximum speeds are 270km/h and 300km/h respectively, while the range is about 435km.

Nearly a dozen countries have shown interest in buying the Night Hunters.

“These are CIS countries, Latin America, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Bahrain, Iran, Egypt, Algeria and also countries in sub-Saharan Africa, a source at the Defense Ministry’s international cooperation department told Gazeta.ru.