Russian Army Takes Delivery of First Two Mi-28N Night Attack Helicopters

Released on Friday, February 08, 2008

The series Mi-28N helicopters were delivered to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. On February 7, 2008 in Center No. 344 of combat preparation and retraining of the Air Force Army Aviation in Torzhok the festivities were celebrated in honor of the delivery of the first two Mi-28N series helicopters "Night Hunter" to the military installation. In the activities took part both the military men of the installation headed by the Chief of the Center, General A.Yu. Chernyayev, and numerous specialists of Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, JSC providing the activation of prospective combat vehicles.

The gala occasion marked the completion of an important stage of the years of work of the staff members of Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, JSC, their colleagues from Rostvertol PLC carrying out the series manufacture of the Mi-28N helicopters, as well as many other civilian and military experts of the helicopter aviation engaged in the development, tests, perfection, modernization and introduction into series manufacture and operation of the above combat rotorcraft, which is highly effective, prospective and was in demand for a long period of time.

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".

The Mi-28 Program coincided with the hard era of economic depression in our country and was accompanied by numerous dramatic events. The Program financing was interrupted, the perfection of helicopters was also ceased, etc. However, owing to joint efforts of many patriots of our Motherland and to enthusiasts of the helicopter aviation the development of the Mi-28N "Night Hunter" helicopter was completed successfully, because the helicopter had passed the major part of joint state tests, was put into series production and was delivered to the military installations of the Russian Federation Air Force Army Aviation. At present the Mi-28N helicopter is undergoing the final stage of joint State Tests and preliminary operation in the field, which will end in the helicopter upgrading up to the requirements of the Air force. It will take at the maximum a year and a half to accomplish the upgrading, which will be followed by taking a decision on the adoption of the helicopter in the Armed Forces.

According to the plans of the Command of the Russian Armed Forces the Russian Federation Air Force will purchase 10-15 vehicles a year, and this figure will rise further on to provide full renewal of the Russian-made combat helicopter fleet before 2015. After having been completed the regiment in Torzhok, the delivery of the helicopters to other military installations will begin, first and foremost to the Air Force units of the North Caucasus Military District. Besides the Russian military men many foreign customers also take interest in the Mi-28N helicopter.

"A new attack Mi-28N helicopter as per its performance surpasses all the foreign rotary-wing aircraft of similar class and fully meets the highest requirements of the modern combined arms operation," stated Director General of the holding company "Helicopters of Russia", A.B. Shibitov. "We hope the "Night Hunter" developed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, JSC will be for years a reliable shield and sword of the Russian Army Aviation, as well as a source of steady income to be earned by our state from international military and technical cooperation", he finalized.