The Russian Mi-28N attack helicopter will receive an upgraded Vikhr-1 missile, which was previously included in the Ka-52 arsenal. The flight range of the product reaches 10 kilometers.
The Mi-28N helicopter will become much more dangerous: as [...] an informed source in the defense industry told TASS, the car will receive an upgraded Whirlwind-1 rocket. "The Vikhr-1 anti-tank guided air missiles are adapted for use on the Mi-28N combat helicopter. Its prototype, armed with the Vikhr-M guided weapons system, is undergoing factory tests, " the agency quotes the source as saying.
The missile has a laser guidance system and a firing range of up to 10 kilometers.
Missiles of the "Whirlwind"complex
Image source: wikipedia
The improved "Whirlwind" was successfully tested in March from the Ka-52 attack helicopter. During the flight tests that the Kalashnikov Group of companies conducted together with the Russian Aerospace Forces, 22 new rockets were launched.
The Mi-28 helicopter has a long history. It began to be developed back in the 70s in the conditions of competition with the Kamov Design Bureau. The basic modification made its first flight in November 1982. On November 14, 1996, a deeply modernized Mi-28N took to the air. This machine was adopted by the Air Force in October 2009. Today, more than 100 Mi-28 helicopters of various modifications have been released.
A further development of the "H" version was the Mi-28NM. The machine is distinguished by a standard overhead radar station of the N025 type, a duplicated control system, additional UAV control capabilities and a number of other aspects. Externally, the new helicopter can be distinguished from earlier versions by a significantly modified front part. The adoption of the Mi-28NM variant into service became known at the end of 2020.
Mi-28NM
Image source: bmpd
One of the main problems of the Mi-28 family remained outdated weapons. The Mi-28N carries anti-tank guided missiles "Ataka", which have a radio command control system and a limited flight range. "Whirlwind-1" compares favorably in this, although, like "Attack", it does not allow to implement in practice the principle of "shot and forgot", which shackles the pilot when performing defensive maneuvers.
The solution should be a fundamentally new missile "Product-305", which can be used by both the Mi-28 and the Kamova helicopter. Recently it became known that the Mi-28NM is capable of carrying four such missiles.
The new product, among other things, is distinguished by an exceptionally long flight range, reaching 100 kilometers. Earlier it became known that the missile has already passed a number of tests on the territory of Syria.
