Mi-28 HAVOC

The Mi-28 Havoc is a new-generation attack helicopter that functions as an air-to-air and air-to-ground partner for the Mi-24 Hind and Ka-50 Hokum. The five-blade main rotor is mounted above the body midsection, and short, wide, tapered, weapon-carrying wings are mounted to the rear of body midsection. Two turboshaft engines in pods are mounted alongside the top of the fuselage with downturned exhausts. The fuselage is slender and tapers to the tail boom and nose. It features a tandem, stepped-up cockpits and a cannon mounted beneath the belly, with fixed landing gear. The tapering tail boom with a swept-back fin has a flat high-mounted on the fin and a rotor mounted on right.

The Mi-28 helicopter is a fighter whose performance is comparable to the American Apache. In addition to its ability to attack ground it would have a capacity of air-to-air combat. This two-seater helicopter has a 23 mm cannon under the nose, he takes on stumps wings of anti-tank guided laser as well as launching air-to-air missiles.

The concept of combat helicopter was a process of forming changes and improvements. One of the corner questions was the production of ideas about the most effective tactics of the application of rotary-wing attack aircraft, the appropriate complex of armament and, therefore, to diagram and to the layout of combat apparatus. In the course of designing "air combat vehicle of infantry" Mi-24 in developers and in customers appeared new ideas relative to the prospects for further development of the helicopters of a similar designation.

In parallel with the concept of the transport- combat helicopter, intended for increasing the mobility of the powered rifle troops and simultaneous guarantee of their fire support, M.L.Mil and its companions-in-arms planned the design of the specialized highly maneuverable rotary-wing "air tank", which would serve "flying platform for the installation of all possible armament". In this version the transportation of landing no longer was provided for. The increased interest in such helicopter was in many respects caused by building in the USA (firm Lockheed) the high-speed and maneuverability combat rotorcraft AH-56 Cheyenne, widely proclaimed by western press. For achievement the high performance characteristics, compared with the characteristics of attack aircraft, AH-56 was equipped with the pushing propeller, wing, rigid hinge-free rotor, and also with elaborate complex of aiming and flight equipment.

The Mi-28 was designed with an aim of creating a complement with the Mi-24, but without carrying troops, in order to have better total performances in particular as regards speed which is one of the elements major in the fight anti-tank device. The project began in 1972 but it was delayed until 1981 because the initial project of Mil was not accepted. The first prototype made its inaugural flight on November 10, 1982. In 1984, Kamov Ka-50 was chooses as an anti-tank combat helicopter and the project of Mil was seriously compromised. It would have been tested in Afghanistan in the mid-80s. Its entry into service dates back to 1987 in the Soviet regiments. The Mi-28 would have been used in Afghanistan by the Red Army between 1987 and 1990. The Mi-28 should have been delivered to Iraq in 1990 but the Gulf War intervened. With the end of the cold war came the end of the interest in having a helicopter having only a specialized anti-tank mission. Production of the Mi-28 was cancelled in 1993.

The Mi-28 is powered by two Isotov TV3-117 turbomotors of 2,500 CV each one. It has two heavily armor-plated cockpits, resistant to projectiles up to 20mm. The main rotor has four blades made out of composite materials, and a cluster of electronics components in the nose. The tanks and the system of control of the kerosene were conceived in order to prevent the risks of explosions to the case they would be damaged thanks to alloy used, the polyurethane, and with the latex which makes it possible to stop the holes. Pale plastic news supports impacts of projectiles of 30mm. Even if it is not used for transport missions, the Mi-28 has a small compartment that can accomodate 3 people, in order to help the crew of a shot down helicopter. The pilot sit behind the gunner-navigator. He has a fixed three-wheeled train which, coupled with seats absorbents energy, allows protected crew in the event of emergency landing or of vertical fall since a low altitude about 12m/s. the crew can evacuate the apparatus while jumping in parachute after having caused the breakage of the bolts maintaining the doors and the stubs of wings.

The Mi-28 can be very quickly sent on a theatre of operation after having dismounted its principal rotor to allow its arrangement on an aircraft cargo liner. It is able to turn at a speed of 45�/s, which proves its maneuverability. Only vital information for the flight is visible by the pilot during the flight in order to enable him to concentrate on piloting. Its thermal signature is 2,5 times less important than that of Mi-24. The Mi-28 is equipped with a 30mm gun, the 2A42, and it can carry air-to-air or anti-tank missiles with guidance radar placed under stubs of wings. Rockets of 80mm and 130mm are also available as well as conventional bombs, grenades, guns, machine-guns. It can carry 2300kg armament under 4 fixed points.

The development of the purpose-designed Mi-28 attack combat helicopter began under the leadership of the General Designer M.L. Mil and was resumed by his successors M.N. Tischenko, M.V. Vainberg and other leaders of Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. When being developed the helicopter the overall experience of development, tests and perfection, series production and practical use of military-purpose rotary-wing aircraft of the �Mi� type, first and foremost of the outstanding Mi-24, the so-called �helicopter-soldier� was taken into account. The combat lift Mi-24 helicopter has been adopted in more than three dozens of countries and took part in almost forty war conflicts. Other �Mi� military-purpose helicopters are equally widespread in the world. For example, the Mi-8 (Mi-17) helicopter is adopted in eighty countries. The experience of foreign combat helicopter industry was also taken into consideration at the maximum when being developed the �Night Hunter�.