The improved version of Russian Mi-28NM attack helicopter was spotted at Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Defence blog reported.
The Russian Helicopters company produced the first prototype of the improved helicopter in 2015. According to the company’s report, helicopter tests should be carried out during 2016, and then the Russian Defense Ministry will receive the first delivery.
Mi-28NM has been in development since 2008, but specific characteristics are not known. The improved version of Mi-28NM has been equipped with surveillance radar and a new control system, the RIA Novosti news agency reported earlier, citing the managing director of the Russian Helicopters (Rosvertol) company, Petr Motrenko. The new attack helicopter also has received improved rotor blades that will increase the cruising speed of the machine by 13% and the top speed – by 10%, South Front reported
The Mi-28NM attack helicopter is producing at the Rosvertol plant in Rostov. The machine was designed to find and destroy tanks and other armored vehicles in conditions of active fire and electronic countermeasures. The helicopter also can hunt for low-speed air targets and infantry.
Recent press reports a new helmet imaging and targeting system which has been designed to display all the necessary visual information and for aiming at targets in any field of view.
In particular, the machine needs to obtain Nadterechny radar Н025, as well as a new sighting and navigation complex, which includes the control system for landing in dense fog and at night. The machines will be installed in a dual control (duplicated in the workplace of the Navigator-operator).
“The radar is able to process information from multiple channels at the same time that helps to improve accuracy of the measurement of the coordinates and parameters of obstacles. The number of simultaneously tracked targets has been increased, new modes have been developed. Performance-board computer has been increased ten times,” Pavel Budagov, the Director of the Ryazan instrument factory, where the radar was developed, said.
The Mi-28NM has also been equipped with a dual control system – the machine can also be operated by the navigator-operator.