Russian Mi‑28N helicopter loss highlights aviation strains
Russian military bloggers report the possible loss of another Mi-28N attack helicopter along with its crew. Here’s what one of Russia's most formidable helicopters can do.
The Russians have allegedly lost a Mi-28N helicopter, considered their second most advanced machine after the Ka-52 Alligator. Judging by the tone of Russian military bloggers, it appears the pilots did not survive. This would likely mark the 16th helicopter loss, considering 15 instances where photos of wreckage have appeared online.
It’s important to note that the loss of each helicopter is a significant blow to the Russians, as they only had about 100 of these helicopters before the conflict. However, this figure is only theoretical, as the actual number of aircraft available for combat is considerably lower.
For the Russians, this could represent 50% of the helicopters, or even less, since the practice of cannibalising parts to maintain other helicopters in service is already widespread there. It’s possible that Russia may have as few as 30 helicopters of this type operational.
Mi-28N - Russian Night Hunter
Mi-28N is one of three modern attack helicopters produced by Russia, along with the Ka-52 Alligator and the Mi-35, a modification of the Mi-24. The Russians began developing the Mi-28N in the 1980s, but the first units joined the Russian Air Force in 2006, with official service starting in 2009.
In design, the Mi-28N is a narrow-bodied attack helicopter with a classic layout featuring a main rotor and a smaller tail rotor. Its crew consists of two pilots seated in tandem, similar to helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache and AH-1Z Viper.
The pilots’ cabin is armoured, as expected for an attack design, and according to Russian claims, it should withstand fire from large-calibre machine guns of 12.7 mm or shrapnel. The helicopters are also outfitted with equipment necessary for night flight, and the pilots have helmet-mounted sights for quicker target elimination.
The Mi-28N’s primary armament is a 30 mm 2A42-2 cannon at the front of the fuselage, equipped with 250 rounds of ammunition. Additional weaponry can be mounted on four pylons located on the stub wings. These accommodate S-8 unguided rocket pods, but the most formidable weapon is the 9M120 Ataka anti-tank guided missiles, with a range of up to 6 kilometres in groups of four.
The maximum anti-tank load could include up to 16 missiles. For self-defence against other helicopters, pods with 23 mm cannons, fuel tanks, electronic warfare pods, or 9K333 Verba missiles are also possible.
For target detection, an optoelectronic turret with a thermal imaging camera and laser rangefinder is mounted in the nose. The N025 radar located above the main rotor can track up to ten targets and fire at two simultaneously. Additionally, there are detectors of laser beams and radar waves on board to alert the pilot of enemy targeting.
For this reason, the Russians have begun pairing these helicopters with the Ka-52 Alligator, which had lesser detection capabilities but was equipped with L-370P2 Vitebsk self-defence systems. Together, they form a complementary threat against Ukrainian forces.
