Mil Mi-28

The Mil Mi-28 (NATO reporting name: Havoc) is a Russian all-weather, day-night, military tandem two-seat attack helicopter. It is a dedicated attack helicopter with no intended secondary transport capability, better optimized than the Mi-24 Hind to the role. Its primary mission is to engage tanks, armored vehicles, and low-speed aerial targets.

Developed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, the Mi-28 entered service with the Russian military in 2013, although limited numbers were deployed earlier. It is intended as a modern counterpart to the American AH-64 Apache.

Key features of the Mi-28 include its robust armor, advanced avionics, and powerful armament. It carries a 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon and can be armed with a variety of air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles, as well as unguided rockets. The helicopter is designed to withstand direct hits from projectiles up to 12.7 mm in size and is equipped with countermeasures to protect against infrared-guided missiles.

Variants of the Mi-28 include the Mi-28A, the Mi-28N (Night Havoc) which is equipped with a radar system for night operations, and the Mi-28NM, a modernized version with improved capabilities and a new radar system. The Mi-28UB is a training variant with dual controls.

The Mi-28 has been exported to several countries and has seen combat in various conflicts. It represents a significant advancement in Russian military helicopter technology.