Russia has supplied Iran with Mi-28NE attack helicopters
Photos of Russian Mi-28NE attack helicopters have appeared in open sources, which, according to relevant military channels, were supplied to Iran. The Telegram channel "Military Informant" drew attention to the published footage. We are talking about the export version of the famous "Night Hunter", which, according to the NATO classification, is called Havoc — "Devastator".
The first helicopter in digital camouflage was shown in the photo
One of the pictures shows the Mi-28NE in its distinctive digital camouflage. According to the authors of the publication, this coloring almost completely coincides with the design of the helicopter exhibition sample, which was demonstrated at the Army-2018 forum.
"With its coloring, the side resembles the digital camouflage of the exhibition Mi-28NE, presented back at the Army-2018," the channel said in a statement.
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| The Mi-28NE attack helicopter. |
| Source: © Marina Lisseva/TASS |
The footage also shows the technical condition of the machine: there are no rotor blades on the helicopter, and a number of vulnerable elements are covered with protective covers. This is usually how the equipment looks immediately after transportation, which may indicate the recent arrival of the machine at the place of operation.
An additional confirmation of the supply version was the January publication of the Iranian Tasnim agency. His correspondent Mohammad Taheri posted a photo of the Mi-28 in desert camouflage, accompanied by the caption: "God grant that you serve well." At that time, the picture was interpreted as a hint that Iran had received Russian helicopters.
The supply contracts were concluded in advance
Possible deliveries of the Mi-28NE to Iran have been discussed before. Representatives of TasnimNews reported that agreements for the supply of attack helicopters were concluded back in 2023. Later, this information was actually confirmed by officials of the Islamic Republic.
In November 2023, Iran's Deputy Defense Minister, Brigadier General Mahdi Farahi, announced that the agreements on the supply of Russian Su-35S, Mi-28NE and Yak-130 combat training aircraft had been fully completed. According to him, plans for the deployment of new aircraft in the units of the country's armed forces have already been finalized, and the machines themselves "will definitely be at the disposal of Iran."
The general also noted that after the implementation of these contracts, Iran will be able to have one of the most powerful helicopter fleets in the region, both in terms of numbers and combat capabilities.
What is known about the Russian "Devastators"?
The Mi-28NE is an export version of the Mi—28N "Night Hunter" attack helicopter, adopted by the Russian Aerospace Forces. The helicopter is designed to destroy tanks, armored vehicles, enemy manpower, destroy fortified facilities and work on low-speed aerial targets. The machine is capable of performing combat missions day and night, including in difficult weather conditions and hot climates.
The first major foreign demonstration of the Mi-28NE took place in 2021 at the Dubai Airshow. There, the "Devastator" demonstrated aerobatics previously available mainly to combat aircraft: combat turns, diving, "slides", tail-first flight and hovering with climb. Many elements were carried out at minimum altitudes, which is critically important for the survivability of the helicopter in real combat conditions.
The key features of the helicopter are protection, survivability and firepower.
One of the key features of the Mi-28NE, according to the online encyclopedia "Corner of the Sky", is considered to be a high level of security. The crew cabin is fully armored, the windshield and side windows withstand armor-piercing ammunition, and the helicopter's design is designed to maintain controllability even with serious damage.
The rotor blades are capable of withstanding projectiles of up to 30 millimeters in caliber, and the power plant allows flight on one engine in case of failure of the second. The vehicle is equipped with an on-board defense system that warns the crew about radar and laser radiation, as well as missile launches with thermal homing heads.
The Night Hunter's armament includes a mobile 30-mm cannon, anti—tank guided missiles, unguided rockets, air-to-air missiles and aerial bombs weighing up to 500 kilograms. This combination makes the helicopter a universal means of fire support.
Before Iran, the Mi-28NE was already supplied to a number of countries. These helicopters are in service with Iraq and Algeria, and earlier it was reported that the first batch of vehicles had been delivered to Uganda. Thus, the Islamic Republic can become one of the largest foreign operators of "Night Hunters".
