If the latest Russian order for 67 helicopters holds up, it could be the lifeline that Rostvertol’s Mi-28N attack helicopter has waited a decade for.
The Mi-28A “Havoc” first appeared at the Paris Air Show in 1989, but was never produced in numbers due competition from the Ka-50 “Black Shark,” and Russia’s financial situation in the aftermath of communism. An improved Mi-28N (see also Rostvertol profile) with full day/night capabilities was introduced as a prototype in 1996. Characteristically, the 2nd, improved prototype Mi-28N would wait until 2004 for its flight, and only began flight testing with the Russian Air Force in June 2005.
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Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Sergey Ivanov pledged that 7 new Mi-28N “Night Hunter” helicopters would be purchased in 2006, and that “due to helicopters high efficiency in fighting against terrorists… the MoD within 9 years shall buy from the Rostov enterprise 67 Night Hunters.” Publicly estimated costs for the Mi-28N vary considerably, from $10-20 million per machine.
Ivanov also repeated a 2003 pledge that the Mi-28N helicopter would be the basic attack helicopter for Russia’s armed forces. That repetition means that conflicting pledges now exist from various officials and generals regarding the Ka-50 “Black Shark’s” future role. Rostvertol release, via Defense-Aerospace.