Defense Technology International - January/February 2008 - (Page 19) NEW AND IMPROVED Upgrades are already slated for Russia’s attack helicopter LEONID FAERBERG MAXIM PYADUSHKIN•MOSCOW Initial deliveries of the Mil Mi-28N helicopter are underway. A Upgrading the Russian air force Havocs to the Mi-28M stanlthough the Russian air force has only recently taken delivery of the first Mil Mi-28N (Havoc) attack heli- dard will probably start in 2009, according to Andery Shibitov, copters, Mil designers have already developed a mod- head of the Mil helicopter plant in Moscow. Mil has also announced that work is underway on a nexternization package for the rotorcraft and announced plans for generation helicopter. Shibitov says the company is developing future combat helicopters. The Mi-28N, for which the air force has been waiting more two models: one for the air force and another for export. He than a decade, has all-weather, day and night capabilities. It declines to provide details on the first model, but explains that the export model, dubbed Mi-XX, will be a light combat will likely replace Russia’s aging Mi-24 Hind fleet. The first three Mi-28Ns were handed over to the army’s avia- helicopter. An Mi-XX image on display during Mil’s 60th antion training center in Torzhok at the end of December. Plans call niversary in December showed a two-seat helicopter similar to the Eurocopter PAH-2 Tiger or Russian Kazan Ansat-RTz. for the purchase of 67 in the next nine years. The development of the Mi-XX is still conceptual. “We have a An export version, the Mi-28NE, is also being prepared. Mil reported last summer that this modification passed trials “in lot of new ideas,” says General Designer Alexey Samusenko. “[A harsh desert conditions,” a reference to demonstration flights in new combat] helicopter will have missions that should be fulfilled with high agility and with concealment from various sensing Algeria, a likely customer. Saudi Arabia may be another buyer. systems. It’s a serious task—a comMil has revealed further plans for promise between advances in metalupgrading the Mi-28 family. Comlurgy and engine design.” pany representatives say the new Although the final design will deversion, the Mi-28M, will feature pend on Russian military requiremore powerful 2,500-shp. Klimov ments, it appears that Mil will focus VK-2500 turboshafts, replacing the on combat survivability. Another TV3-117VMA engines. The aerodypossible direction is increased namics will also be improved—despeed. According to Samusenko, signers will remove ballonets from a high-speed combat helicopter is the nose section and add streamimportant, particularly for reconlined ammunition boxes for the 30naissance missions. mm. rotary gun. They also decided Mil wants to increase the speed of to unify the pilot’s and weapons Mil designers envision the Mi-X1 conhelicopters beyond 300 kph. (186.4 operator’s tandem cabins. cept flying at 450-500 kph. mph.). Another concept helicopter, One significant change is replacement of the Tor electro-optical station with a gyro-stabilized sys- the Mi-X1, so far shown in civilian form, is designed to fly at 450tem developed by UOMZ of Ekaterinburg, Russia. It permits use 500 kph. Such increases are achieved by the use of a Stall Local of the new supersonic AT-15 Khrizantema anti-tank guided mis- Elimination System (SLES) in the main rotor comprising control modifications that delay the stall at the root of the retreating sile instead of the current AT-16 Ataka-V radio-guided missile. The Mi-28M will be the first airborne platform for the Khri- blade. The designers also sti ened the main rotor blades and zantema missile, which the Russian armed forces added in 2004. installed arrow-type tips. The Mi-X1 concept includes a ducted Compared with the Ataka-V, the Khrizantema has a more pow- tail propeller with thrust vectoring for anti-torque control. Russian helicopter designer Kamov has a similar high-speed erful warhead that’s capable of penetrating armor 125 mm. (4.9 in.) thick. It also has two modes: automatic, which is guided by project dubbed Ka-92 that combines coaxial main rotors and a millimeter-wave radar; and semi-automatic, guided by a laser a tail thrust propeller. Shibitov explains that due to a recent beam. It can thus engage two targets simultaneously, among merger that includes Mil and Kamov, only one design will be chosen for joint development. I them tanks, low-flying aircraft and field fortifications. www.aviationweek.com/dti MIL HELICOPTER CONCEPT JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 19 http://www.aviationweek.com/dti
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