Russian "Super Night Hunter" helicopter wants to be the protagonist of the air battlefield in the next 10 years
The Mi-28NM is the latest model of the Mi-28 armed helicopter. It is equipped with two control systems for the weapon operator and the pilot. This allows the weapon operator to fly the helicopter temporarily in an emergency, greatly improving the soldier’s Survival is possible.
Russian media disclosed on October 2 that the Mi-28NM "Super Night Hunter" heavy armed helicopter has begun mass production.
According to the current defense order, the Russian army will receive 98 Mi-28NM by 2027.
Mi-28 is a single-rotor with tail rotor, tandem two-seater heavy armed helicopter, and the first combat helicopter of the Soviet army.
For a long time, the Mi-28 has been compared with the AH-64 Apache armed helicopters of the U.S. Army. After all, the original intention of the Mi-28 was also to counter the Apache.
Especially the Mi-28N "Dark Hunter" is often compared with the AH-64D "Longbow Apache".
Today, Russia has launched a new Mi-28NM.
In response, Wang Qun, a professor at the National University of Defense Technology and an adjunct professor at the Hunan Transportation Engineering College, told a reporter from Science and Technology Daily: "The Mi-28NM is the latest member of the Mi-28 series and is a deeply improved version of the Mi-28N, mainly used to destroy tanks and armored vehicles. As well as helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and other low-altitude and low-speed targets. At the same time, it can also provide fire support for ground forces. Of course, it can also conduct aerial reconnaissance and provide target instructions for other weapons and equipment. Overall, the development time of the Mi-28NM Later than the AH-64D, it has late-comer advantages and should be surpassed in some performance aspects, such as power system, protection capabilities and airborne weapons."
Mi-28A has many advantages but also fatal flaws
On December 16, 1976, the Soviet Army asked the Miri Design Bureau and the Kamov Design Bureau to develop a new type of armed helicopter. The Miri Design Bureau took 6 years to complete the development and prototype manufacture of the Mi-28.
The prototype flew for the first time on November 10, 1982.
The Mi-28 has a maximum take-off weight of about 11,400 kg, a maximum flight speed of 350 km/h, a cruising speed of 265 km/h, a maximum range of 470 km, and a battery life of 2 hours. It can be used directly with An-22 and Iraq. Er-76 transport aircraft transported to the designated combat area.
According to Wang Qun, the Mi-28 family has two practical models, one is the Mi-28A, which was publicly unveiled in 1989; the other is the Mi-28N, which participated in the Paris Air Show in 1997. It has night combat capabilities. And comprehensively improve the level of all-weather combat.
Relevant evaluations believe that the Mi-28A has good maneuverability and quick hands-on; strong survivability, with titanium alloy bulletproof steel plate around the cockpit, which can withstand rocket and anti-tank missile attacks.
It is in line with the Western standards for "anti-tank helicopter combat", and it can detect and strike first at long distances and complex terrain.
At the same time, the ultra-low-altitude penetration capability is outstanding, and it can complete ultra-low-altitude penetration missions below 20 meters.
"However, compared with similar Western helicopters, the Mi-28A has a relatively backward weapon system and lacks night vision equipment, making it impossible to complete combat missions at night and under complex weather conditions." Wang Qun pointed out that in contrast, the Soviet military K-50 heavy armed helicopters are preferred, while Mi-28A is mainly used to open up the international market.
Iraq once placed an order, but it failed because of its defeat in the overseas war.
Subsequently, the Soviet Union disintegrated, and the Mi-28A finally failed to open the international market.
On September 30, 1991, the Soviet military requested the Miri Design Bureau to start developing the night combat Mi-28 gunship.
So Miri Design Bureau had to abandon the Mi-28A and concentrate on the development of Mi-28N.
In October 1996, Russia completed the first flight of the Mi-28N, and it will show its majesty at the Paris Air Show the following year.
All-weather combat capabilities have been greatly improved
According to Wang Qun, Mi-28N has absorbed the advantages of Mi-28, such as large thrust-to-weight ratio, stronger attack power and survivability.
It is equipped with advanced night vision equipment, high-resolution dual-band radar, and systems for automatic tracking, route planning, route obstacles and target display. It can fight in the dark night and even under severe weather conditions without even faint starlight.
The protection capabilities have also been enhanced accordingly, such as ceramic armor, shock absorbers installed on the landing gear, bulletproof glass in the cockpit, and bulletproof shields on important parts/parts.
It is worth mentioning that it also installs a radar on the top of the lift propeller shaft. As long as the helicopter is hidden behind the cover when hovering, it can detect and launch an attack. This is the same as the "Longbow Apah". "Odd" is very similar.
At the same time, its flight capability has also been improved. It is equipped with low-light-level TVs, laser rangefinders, helmet-mounted target indicators, global positioning and other equipment. Even in the sky over complex terrain, it can fly at a height of 10 meters and launch attacks.
These changes of the Mi-28N have greatly improved its combat capabilities, making it an all-weather and all-weather combat helicopter.
However, due to the economic difficulties after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the progress of the aircraft was quite slow.
It was not until November 2013 that the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the official service of the Mi-28N after solving some of the problems exposed during the test flight.
In March 2016, Russia began to deploy Mi-28N on the Syrian battlefield to be tested in actual combat.
"The Mi-28NM is the latest model of the Mi-28 gunship, which is defined by Russia as the third-generation heavy-duty gunship. Compared with the Mi-28N, it can be said to have undergone a deep transformation and most of its performance has been improved." Wang Qun said, “The Mi-28NM is equipped with two sets of control systems for the weapon operator and the pilot. This allows the weapon operator to fly the helicopter temporarily in emergency situations, greatly improving the survival of soldiers. It is not only designed The passive anti-seismic protection system composed of anti-seismic landing gear and anti-seismic seats, and also installed with the'President'-S airborne defense system and active laser protection system, its protection is more outstanding. Therefore, the Mi-28NM is considered by the West as a protection ability The strongest armed helicopter."
Mi-28NM also attaches great importance to situational awareness, and the target indication system has been greatly improved.
The real-time data of the helicopter navigation, the terrain along the route, the target distribution and the selection information lights of the weapon system will be projected on the pilot helmet glass.
Moreover, the target indication system can analyze the battlefield situation and make judgments autonomously, and the pilot only needs to confirm the decision, thus shortening the time required to indicate and attack the target, and greatly improve the combat level.
Continuously promote the process of localization
Generally speaking, there is little difference between Mi-28NM and Mi-28N. The obvious change is that the "big nose" radome in front of the nose is missing, and the field of vision is wider.
In addition, the new engine was replaced, the rotor system was redesigned, and the lift propeller was replaced with composite materials. The power is greater, the aerodynamic layout is better, and the weight of the aircraft is lighter, making its maximum flight speed 13 higher than that of the Mi-28N. %, the cruising speed is increased by about 10%.
“It’s worth noting that it uses the VK-2500P-01/PS turboshaft engine for the first time, which is not only more powerful, but also more reliable and energy-saving. Previously, its engines were produced in Ukraine. This shows that Russia has begun to gain a foothold. Our own technology research and development system is constantly advancing the process of localization.” Wang Qun said that the Mi-28NM's avionics system has also been upgraded, which is also based on Russia's own technology.
This may be the reason why the technical content of the Mi-28N has reached a certain level, and after the battlefield test, it is still an important reason to rush to develop the Mi-28NM.
The Mi-28NM is not only compatible with all missiles carried by the Mi-28 series, but will also be equipped with the new "Product 305" long-range air-to-surface missile.
The missile has a range of up to 25 kilometers and adopts compound guidance, which can perform precision strikes beyond the range of enemy short-range air defense missiles and antiaircraft artillery.
Earlier this year, insiders of the Russian Ministry of Defense revealed that they decided to equip the Mi-28NM with R-74M air-to-air missiles with a range of up to 40 kilometers.
This will fundamentally enhance its air-to-air combat capabilities, and it is said that it can even shoot down fifth-generation fighters.
Of course, the Mi-28NM also took into account the new trend of UAV combat that has emerged on the Syrian battlefield, and the design emphasized the linkage and cooperation with UAVs.
The latest reports show that the Mi-28NM will have the ability to launch micro and suicide drones from the missile launch tube.
"Therefore, the Russians confidently declare that this is a helicopter that will not be outdated in the next 10 years." Wang Qun said.
Our reporter Zhang Qiang