Russian Aerospace Foreces – Attack Helicopters – Mi-35P, Ka-52, Mi-24, Mi-28NM

Piran, 25.1.2024

Attack Helicopters Mi-35P, Ka-52, Mi-24, Mi-28NM

26. dec. 2021 – Helicopters have often been named the workhorses of modern war. They transport troops and various cargoes, evacuate wounded personnel, conduct air support, and reconnaissance, etc. Russia has a wide range of modern helicopters that meet the strictest requirements of military hardware. There are 37 countries that currently operate 3,330 helicopter gunships. Despite having advanced choppers Russia comes to second place after the US in terms of gunship numbers. US AH-64 Apache leads the export list with 1,542 units. Russia occupies second place with 29 percent and exports three types of helicopters. In this video, we will be looking at the types of attack helicopters Russia is using and their lethality. US producers dominate the market with 62 percent followed by Russia (29%), France (4%), Italy (2%), the UK (2%), and Turkey (1%). 37 countries currently operate 3,330 helicopter gunships. 62 percent of them were produced by the United States. US AH-64 Apache leads the export list (1,542 units). AH-64D Block III designated as AH-64E Apache Guardian has been produced and exported since 2012. There are 448 of them in the world and the number will grow, as the interest of Western countries is on the rise and US ground forces plan to procure the helicopters. Russia occupies second place with 29 percent and exports three types of helicopters: Mi-24/35 Hind, Ka-52, and Mi-28. Mi-24 is the second in the world by the number of exported helicopters (521 units). Modern Mi-35M modification has been exported since 2005 and 179 helicopters were sold. Mi-24/35 family strikes at ground targets, engage in assault operations, transports small cargoes, but is no direct competitor to western gunships for several reasons. Therefore, Mi-28 Havoc (133 units), Ka-52 Hokum, and Ka-52K (204) are the real representatives of Russian gunships in the market niche. The Russian Defense Ministry plans to order another 114 Kamov helicopters in the framework of the 2018-2027 arms program.

6. jan. 2022 – The latest Russian Mi-28NM attack helicopter will turn into a fighter capable of handling enemy aircraft, drones and cruise missiles,” according to state-owned newspaper Izvestia, citing Russian defense industry sources. “Powerful R-74M ammunition will be installed on board the rotorcraft to destroy air targets. They are able to bring down even fifth-generation aircraft. Called the Russian “Night Hunter,” the new Mi-28NM is built with modernized engines, a new fuselage and an auxiliary power plant able to support next-generation onboard networking and electronic warfare systems. A Russian newspaper claims the country’s new combat helicopter gunship contains breakthrough technology to the point wherein its weapons, drone connectivity, communications networking, sensors and long-range targeting enable it to attack successfully from “outside of the enemy’s effective air defenses. The Mi-28NM’s onboard armament allows it to detect and destroy enemy targets around the clock and in any weather conditions while operating outside the enemy’s effective air defenses,” Vitaly Shcherbina, Chief Designer of the Combat Helicopter Program at Rostec, said.