The thermal signature of the helicopter has been reduced greatly with exhaust mixer boxes over the exhaust ducts to provide protection against heat seeking missiles. A  non-retractable tricycle type landing gear - together with energy absorbing seats - protects the crew in case of a crash landing.  However, the crew can safely bail out  - given enough altitude - as the cabin doors and rotors will jettison off in an emergency in order to remove any obstructions to parachuting.

The helicopter can be operated from poorly prepared forward areas. The 2 turbo-shaft engines (2,200 hp each) are fitted with deflectors and separators to prevent dust ingestion when taking off from unprepared pads. The shells used for the gun and the antitank guided missiles are standard ordnance used by land forces to simplify the logistics of rearming quickly in forward bases. Also, the fuselage bay has a hatch door for the rescue of up to three downed friendly air crew.

The pilot, in the rear cabin, flies the helicopter and uses the unguided weapons thru a targeting system that follows the direction of  his eyes.. When a high priority target is detected, the pilot's helmet mounted target designator allocates the target to the navigator's surveillance and fire control system. The navigator/weapons officer is then able to deploy guided weapons or a fast moving gun against the target. The navigator can also seek out and identify targets using the movable surveillance and fire control unit.

The Mi-28A has small, mid-mounted stub wings with 4 suspension units on which are mounted countermeasure pods, a mixture of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, unguided rockets and guns. Up to 16 anti-tank missiles can be mounted on the helicopter – either the Shturm short range or Ataka longer range missile. Ataka, with a range of 5 miles, is guided by a narrow radar beam which has proven effective against hostile jamming and other countermeasures. The target hit probability of the Ataka missile is 96% at a range of 2-4 miles and the kill probability against heavily armored targets is close to unity. The missile has a shaped-charge warhead with a tandem charge for penetration of  4” thick homogeneous, multilayer, or explosive amour. The helicopter can also carry four containers each with twenty 80mm unguided rockets (total of eighty 8mm rockets) or with five 122 mm rockets (total of  twenty 122mm rockets). The helicopter can alternatively carry containers with grenade launchers, various caliber machine guns, aerial bombs or incendiary tanks.  It is also equipped with a gyro-stabilized turreted 30mm cannon and, finally, can launch  “fire-and-forget” air-to-air missiles.

The Mi-28 is equipped with state-of-the-art sighting, observation, piloting, navigation and communications systems. The cockpit is designed to minimize the workload on the pilot particularly during low altitude flight and combat missions.  The systems automatically carry out the data processing and control functions; and assign priorities in weapons deployment. The surveillance/fire control system incorporates a laser range-finder that provides the target range data for computing the firing parameters of the gun and for the launch of the unguided rockets. Data is also downloaded from the laser range-finder for the launch of guided missiles and  their optimum  trajectory.

Top speed is 180 mph, it can fly rearwards and sideways at 60 mph and is able to hover turn at 45 degrees/second. This highly maneuverable helicopter is able to demonstrate aerial stunts such as loops and snap-rolls. Its hover ceiling is 3,450 meters and the service ceiling is 5,750 meters.  The normal range is 400 miles but - with attached drop tanks - it can fly 700 miles.

In 1996,  a prototype of the day-and-night capable version. the Mi-28N Night Havoc, starting testing. While the Night Havoc retains most of the structural design of the Mi-28, it has an integrated electronic “forward looking infrared" combat system which allows it to hover behind cover with just the radar head looking over trees, buildings or high ground. The crew are equipped with night vision goggles and can fly “nap of the earth” missions at night and in adverse weather.

Related Links
Venik's Aviation: MI-28A Havoc