Russia suffers another blow as Mi‑28N helicopter is downed
Russian military bloggers report the probable loss of another Mi-28N attack helicopter along with its crew. Here's what one of the most dangerous Russian helicopters is capable of.
The Russians have allegedly lost a Mi-28N helicopter, considered the second most advanced after the Ka-52 Alligator. Judging by the tone of Russian military bloggers, it seems the pilots did not survive. This appears to be the 16th helicopter lost, considering 15 previous instances where photos of the wreckage appeared online.
It's worth noting that the loss of each helicopter was a severe blow to the Russians since they only had about a hundred before the war. However, this is just a theoretical figure, as the actual number of helicopters available for combat would be significantly lower.
For the Russians, this could mean that only 50% or even fewer of these helicopters are operational, as the practice of cannibalizing parts to maintain other helicopters is already widespread. Russia might actually have as few as 30 helicopters of this type in service.
Mi-28N - Russian Night Hunter
The Mi-28N is one of three modern attack helicopters produced by Russia, alongside the Ka-52 Alligator and the Mi-35, a modification of the Mi-24. Development of the Mi-28N began back in the 1980s, but the first units only reached the Russian Air Force in 2006 and were officially accepted into service in 2009.
Structurally, the Mi-28N is a narrow-bodied attack helicopter with a classic design featuring a main rotor and a smaller tail rotor. Its crew consists of two pilots seated in tandem, similar to helicopters like the AH-64 Apache and AH-1Z Viper.
The pilots’ cabin is armored, as expected for an attack helicopter, and, according to the Russians, is designed to withstand fire from large-caliber machine guns of 12.7 mm or shrapnel. The helicopters are also equipped with accessories necessary for night flight, and the pilots have helmet-mounted sights, allowing for faster target elimination.
The Mi-28N's primary weapon is a 30 mm 2A42-2 cannon located at the front fuselage, with a supply of 250 rounds of ammunition. Additional armament can be mounted on four pylons located on the stub wings. These allow the carrying of popular S-8 unguided rocket pods, but the most dangerous weapon is the 9M120 Ataka anti-tank guided missiles with a range of up to 4 miles, grouped in fours.
The maximum anti-tank load could include up to 16 missiles. Additionally, pods with 23 mm cannons, fuel tanks, electronic warfare pods, or 9K333 Verba missiles can be carried for self-defense against other helicopters.
For target detection, an optoelectronic turret with a thermal imaging camera and a laser rangefinder is mounted in the nose. The N025 radar, located above the main rotor, allows the tracking of ten objects and simultaneous firing at two of them. Furthermore, there are detectors of laser beams and radar waves on board to warn the pilot of enemy targeting.
For this reason, the Russians have started pairing these helicopters with the Ka-52 Alligator, which has less detection capability but is equipped with L-370P2 Vitebsk self-defense systems. Together, they form a mutually complementary threat for Ukrainians.
