MIL MI-28 "HAVOC"

La combinación de helicóptero cañonero con el de transporte, en la serie Hind, no proveyó grandes beneficios, y la fábrica Mil decidió mejorar la aeronave con líneas parecidas a los helicópteros del Oeste, así fue como nació el Mi-28 Havoc. Los trabajos de diseño comenzaron en 1980 con los primeros tres prototipos, realizando su primer vuelo el 10 de noviembre de 1982.

El Havoc tenía una configuración similar al AH-64 Apache, pero llamarlo "Apachski" sería injusto, al diferir en bastante detalles. Posee una configuración de rotor principal y rotor de cola, se encuentra potenciado por dos turbinas Klimov TV3-117KM con 2200 shp cada una y un tren de aterrizaje fijo. El rotor principal consta de cuatro palas. El rotor de cola, en los dos primeros prototipos, constaba de tres palas, pero a partir del tercero contó con un rotor tipo tijera de dos palas cada uno.

El artillero y el piloto tiene su propia cabina, con el piloto sentado en la parte superior. Los tripulantes se sienta sobre asientos absorbedores de impactos. Las ventanillas están blindadas y blindaje de titanio y cerámica es utilizado para proteger a la tripulación y al sistema de rotor. La máquina posee un sistema de escape que expulsa al rotor e infla una vejiga que protege a la tripulación al saltar.

El armamento consiste de una torreta con un cañón de 30 mm. Esta se puede elevar 13 grados, descender 40 grados y girar 110 grados a cada lado. Dos rondas de 150 municiones son montadas en la misma torreta. El arma puede selectarse para disparar a 300 ó a 900 vueltas por minuto.

Cada una de las alas posee dos pilones, con un total de cuatro. Cada pilón es capaz de transportar 480 Kg. (1058 Lb) y puede transportar 4 lanzadores AT-6 de misiles antitanque. Cada puntera alar posee un dispenser de serpentinas para disturbios de misiles y los motores poseen salidas de escape con supresores de rayos infrarrojos. Posee también un pequeño compartimiento que lo habilita a rescatar a otra tripulación en el campo de batalla.

Debido al colapso de la Unión Soviética, el Mi-28 no entró en producción. Las Fuerzas Armadas post-soviéticas tenían un nuevo requerimiento, pero el Havoc perdió la competencia en 1994 contra el Kamov Ka-50 “Hokum”.

Algunos observadores creen que el Hokum es inferior y solo ganó por presiones políticas. Un rotor coaxial provee buena capacidad de sustentación y es bueno para el uso en buques y tiene buena respuesta a los vientos cruzados, pero los críticos dicen que el peligro de colisión entre los rotores, limita la maniobrabilidad de la máquina, un punto muy importante en este tipo de helicópteros.

En cualquier caso, en 1994, las Fuerzas Armadas Rusas anuncian que financiarían el desarrollo de una máquina para vuelo nocturno y todo tiempo del Havoc. En la primavera de 1997, la fabrica Mil publicita el prototipo del mejorado Mi-28N Havoc B, donde la “N” es por Nochoy (Noche). El primer vuelo de esta máquina es realizado el 14 de noviembre de 1996. El prototipo del Havoc B fue una reconstrucción del prototipo del Havoc original.

VERSIONES

Mi-28 - Versión original
Mi-28N - Versión para vuelo nocturno y/o todo tiempo.

The mixed cargo-gunship configuration of the Hind-series helicopters having proven no great benefit, the Mil bureau decided to follow up with an improved machine much more along the lines of Western helicopter gunships, the Mil "Mi-28 Havoc". Design work began in 1980, with the first of three prototypes performing its initial flight on 10 November 1982.

The Havoc has a general configuration similar to that of the US AH-64 Apache, but calling it an "Apachski" would be unfair, as it clearly differs in detail. It has a conventional main-tail rotor configuration; is powered by twin Klimov TV3-117KM turboshafts with 2,200 horsepower each; and has fixed landing gear. The main rotor has four blades. While the first two prototypes were fitted with a three-blade tail rotor, the third has twin "scissors"-type two-bladed rotors.

The gunner and pilot have their own cockpits, with the pilot in the staggered-up back cockpit. The crew sit in shock-absorbing seats that can handle crash landings at up to 12 meters (40 feet) per second. The cockpit windows are plated with flat no-glint armor glass, and titanium and ceramic armor is used to protect the aircrew and vital rotorcraft systems. Systems are arranged so that the most critical are the least exposed, and redundancy is used to help ensure survivability. The machine has an escape system that blows off the rotors and inflates air bladders that protect the crew while they are bailing out.

Built-in armament consists of a turret with a single-barreled "2A42" 30 millimeter cannon. The turret can elevate 13 degrees, depress 40 degrees, and traverse 110 degrees from each side of the centerline. Twin 150-round ammunition boxes are mounted on the turret itself, to reduce the probability of jammed ammo feeds. The gun can be selected for a 300 round per minute rate of fire for surface targets, or a 900 round per minute rate of fire for air combat.

Each of the stub wings has two pylons, for a total of four plyons. Each pylon has a carriage capability of 480 kilograms (1,058 pounds) and can carry a four-round launcher for AT-6 Spiral antitank missiles, an unguided rocket pod, or other stores. Sensor and targeting systems are fitted. Each wingtip has a chaff-flare dispenser, and engine exhaust infrared suppressors are fitted.

The Havoc actually has a small cargo compartment of sorts, though its main rationale is to allow one helicopter to rescue the crew of another. It could almost certainly be used to carry some ammunition reloads as well.

Due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Mi-28 did not enter production. The post-Soviet Russian Army did have a requirement for a new gunship helicopter, but the Havoc lost that competition in 1994 to the Kamov Ka-50 "Hokum".

Mil didn't give up on the Mi-28, however. Even though the Hokum had "won" the competition, the Russian Army didn't have the funding to commit to production, making the win meaningless. If and when the Russian Army got funding, it was likely to be after a period of time that rendered the service's original specifications irrelevant, leading to a new competition.

Some observers believe the Hokum was the inferior choice in the first place, and that it only won through political lobbying efforts. A coaxial-rotor helicopter does provide good lift capability and is well-suited for shipboard operation, due to its small footprint and insensitivity to crosswinds. However, critics claim that the danger of collision between the coaxial rotorblades limits such a machine's maneuverability, a definite drawback in a helicopter gunship. In addition, damage to the rotor system that a conventional helicopter might survive will very likely lead to a rotor collision that will send a coaxial-rotor machine into the ground.

In any case, in 1994, the Russian Army announced that they had funded development of a night / all-weather attack version of the Havoc. In the spring of 1997, the Mil bureau publicly unveiled the prototype of the improved "Mi-28N Havoc-B", where "N" stood for "Nochoy (Night)". First flight of the Mi-28N prototype was on 14 November 1996. The Havoc-B prototype was a rebuild of the original Havoc prototype.

The Mi-28N features a daylight TV / FLIR turret embedded in the nose, and a mast-mounted millimeter-wave Kinzal-V or Arbalet targeting radar. Other improvements include an enhanced cockpit layout; slightly improved 30 millimeter cannon; modified rotor blades with swept tips; and uprated TV3-117VK engines with 2,500 horsepower each. There has been no commitment to production of the Havoc-B, either, and the Mil organization has sought foreign sales.

VERSIONS

Mi-28 - the first production version
Mi-28N - night and adverse weather version.

Characteristics Características	Information Información	Characteristics Características	Information Información
First Flight Primer Vuelo	1982	Engine Motor	2 Klimov TV3-117
Seating Capacity Plazas	2	Power Potencia	2200 SHP each
Empty Weight Peso Vacío	7890 Kg	Hover Ceiling O.G.E. Estacionario O.G.E	10454 Ft
Maximum Weight Peso Máximo	11500 Kg	Hover Ceiling I.G.E. Estacionario I.G.E	NA
Vel. Cruise Vel. crucero	155 Kts	Service Ceiling Techo de Servicio	19000 Ft
V.N.E. V.N.E	167 Kts	Maximum Range (Std) Alcance (Std)	253 NM
Dimensions / Dimensiones
Fuselage Length Fuselaje Largo	55 ft 10 in 17,10 m	Main Rotor Diameter Diam. Rotor Principal	56 ft 5 in 17,2 m
Total Height Alto Total	15 ft 5 in 4,70 m	Tail Rotor Diameter Diam. Rotor de Cola	12 ft 7 in 3,84 m