Mil Mi-28

Mil Mi-28
Name	Mil Mi-28
Type	Attack helicopter
Manufacturer	Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
First flight	1982
Introduced	2006
Status	In service

Mil Mi-28

The Mil Mi-28 is a Russian two-seat, twin-engined attack helicopter developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and produced by Rostvertol in Rostov-on-Don. Designed for close air support, anti-armor operations, and battlefield suppression, the type entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces after trials and developmental changes involving the Soviet Air Forces and export evaluations. Development and deployment intersect with programs and doctrines influenced by actors such as the Soviet–Afghan War, the First Chechen War, and modernization efforts under leaders including Vladimir Putin.

Development

Design work began at Mil during the late 1970s in response to requirements from the Soviet Armed Forces and directives from the Ministry of Defence (Soviet Union). The prototype flew in 1982 amid parallel projects like the Kamov Ka-50 program and with influence from experiences in Operation Desert Storm, leading to debate within the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces about role specialization. Development was protracted by technological challenges involving avionics supplied by firms associated with the Soviet Union and later reworked under institutions such as Rosoboronexport and Russian Helicopters. Trials involved testing ranges at sites near Zhukovsky, and procurement decisions were shaped by budgets overseen by the Russian Ministry of Defence and defense industry reforms in the 1990s under Boris Yeltsin.

Design

The Mi-28 features tandem seating for a pilot and a gunner with an armored cockpit derived from survivability criteria studied after combat in Afghanistan and engagements influenced by lessons from Lebanon and Yugoslavia. Its armament integration includes a chin-mounted 30 mm automatic cannon, guided missiles compatible with systems used by Soviet Ground Forces and NATO export customers, and stores pylons for unguided rockets similar to ordnance used in Chechnya campaigns. The helicopter uses twin Klimov turboshaft engines, a five-blade rotor system, and crashworthy fuel cells influenced by standards from organizations like MiG suppliers and design bureaus including OKB practices. Avionics suites incorporate helmet-mounted sighting systems akin to those fielded by units of the Russian Air Force and sensors comparable to systems developed by firms partnered with Tikhomirov NIIP.

Operational history

Operational evaluation occurred during trials in the 1990s and deployment accelerated in the 2000s with serial deliveries to the Russian Armed Forces and combat introductions reported during the Russian military intervention in Syria and operations connected to the Russo-Ukrainian War. Units employed Mi-28 platforms in coordination with brigades of the Ground Forces and aviation regiments that trace lineage to formations from the Soviet Air Forces. Export efforts saw interest from states such as Iraq and Algeria, while operational feedback led to upgrades overseen by enterprises within Rostec.

Variants

Several variants evolved from the baseline airframe in response to requests from customers and modernisation programs overseen by design teams at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. These include upgraded avionics and weapons packages influenced by export contracts with the Ministry of Defence (Iraq) and procurement agreements negotiated with delegations from Vietnam and Peru. Prototype and production variants underwent iterative testing at ranges used by the Russian Air Force and trials evaluated by technical commissions including representatives from Rosoboronexport.

Operators

Primary operator: the Russian Aerospace Forces with units assigned to regiments previously equipped under the Soviet Air Forces system. Export operators include nations such as Iraq and Algeria following contracts brokered by Rosoboronexport and political engagements involving delegations from ministries modeled on the Ministry of Defence (Iraq). Potential and past customers have included countries that participated in procurement talks with delegations alongside officials from Russia and state-owned exporters like Rostec.

Specifications

General characteristics include twin Klimov turboshaft engines, a length and height comparable to contemporaries produced by manufacturers such as Boeing and Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters), a five-blade main rotor analogous to those on other attack platforms from design bureaus like Mil and Kamov, and a suite of avionics developed in collaboration with suppliers linked to Tikhomirov NIIP. Performance parameters—cruise speed, range, payload, and armament loadouts—were defined during trials authorized by the Ministry of Defence (Russian Federation).

Accidents and incidents

Operational losses and incidents have been recorded during exercises and combat operations involving units under Russian Aerospace Forces command and during export acceptance trials conducted with delegations from Iraq and Algeria. Investigations into crashes involve aviation authorities linked to the Interstate Aviation Committee and military tribunals convened by defense ministries modeled on the Russian Ministry of Defence system, with causes ranging from technical failure to combat damage.

Category:Helicopters Category:Attack aircraft