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Mil Mi-28 Havoc

Mil · Attack Helicopter · Russia · Modern (1992–2009)

Mil Mi-28 Havoc — Attack Helicopter
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The Mil Mi-28 (NATO reporting name Havoc) is a Russian twin-engine, two-seat dedicated attack helicopter developed by the Mil Helicopter Plant (now Russian Helicopters JSC) and produced from 2008 to the present. Entering Russian Air Force service in 2009, the Mi-28 was conceived as a dedicated gunship to supplement — rather than replace — the multi-role Mi-24 'Hind'. Together with the competing Kamov Ka-50/52, it represented the Soviet and Russian answer to the U.S. AH-64 Apache. Production has reached 100+ Mi-28 / Mi-28N airframes, with operators including Russia, Algeria, Kenya, Iraq, and Uganda.

Airframe dimensions run to 53 ft (16.0 m) length with a 56-ft (17.2 m) four-blade main rotor. Empty weight sits at 19,000 lb against a 26,000 lb maximum take-off weight. Two Klimov VK-2500 turboshafts deliver roughly 2,400 shp each — a derivative of the TV3-117 used on the Mi-24. Maximum speed reaches 199 mph, typical combat radius 200 nmi, and service ceiling 18,700 ft. Distinguishing features include a tandem two-seat cockpit (gunner and pilot, separating crew from any troop-cabin role unlike the Mi-24), armour rated to defeat 12.7 mm armour-piercing fire, four external hardpoints carrying AT-9 / 9M120 Vikhr / Ataka / Igla anti-tank guided missiles, 80 mm rocket pods and air-to-air missiles, a port-side nose-mounted 30 mm 2A42 cannon, and a sensor fit including night-vision goggle compatibility and low-light TV.

The Mi-28 gives Russian Aerospace Forces and Russian Army Aviation a dedicated gunship in the AH-64 mould: tandem seating, no troop cabin, expanded weapons fit, and survivability built around armour and tactics. It lacks the AH-64's stealth shaping and AESA radar but matches the Apache in baseline gunship performance. The combined Mi-28 / Mi-24 / Ka-52 fleet gives Russia the largest combat-helicopter force of any nation outside the United States.

Combat employment began with Russian operations in Syria from 2015, where the Mi-28 conducted strike sorties against ISIS and opposition forces — its first use in combat. The Russia-Ukraine war (2022-present) has seen heavy Mi-28 use against Ukrainian armoured forces, alongside multiple combat losses to Ukrainian Stinger and Igla missiles and other ground-based defences. Performance has been mixed: doctrinal limitations and a dense modern threat environment have constrained the type's effectiveness. Production continues at Russian Helicopters' Rostvertol facility in Rostov-on-Don at a modest rate, with a Russian programme target of 150-200 Mi-28 by 2030.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Mil Mi-28 Havoc is a Russian attack helicopter. It is Russia's answer to the American Apache, built to hunt tanks and support ground troops. The Mi-28 first flew in 1982 and entered Russian service in 2009. Two crew members sit one behind the other, like in an Apache.

The Mi-28 has two Klimov VK-2500 engines, each making 2,200 horsepower. Top speed is 200 mph, faster than most cars on a highway. The helicopter carries a 30 mm cannon on the chin, plus rockets and missiles under stub wings. Armor around the cockpit protects the crew from heavy bullets.

The Mi-28 can fly low at night using night-vision and radar. It can take heavy damage and keep flying, thanks to its tough armor. Russia has used the Mi-28 in Syria, Chechnya, and Ukraine, where some have been lost to enemy missiles.

About 130 Mi-28s have been built so far, all for Russia, Algeria, Iraq, and a few other countries. The newer Mi-28NM version has even better electronics and the new LMUR long-range missile. Each Mi-28 costs about $18 million, far less than an Apache.

Fun Facts

  • The Mi-28 is Russia's answer to the American Apache attack helicopter.
  • Top speed is 200 mph, faster than most cars on a highway.
  • About 130 Mi-28s have been built so far.
  • The Mi-28 carries a 30 mm cannon on the chin, plus rockets and missiles.
  • Each Mi-28 costs about $18 million, far less than an Apache.
  • Algeria, Iraq, and Russia all fly Mi-28s.
  • The Mi-28's two crew sit one behind the other, like in an Apache.

Kids’ Questions

How is it different from an Apache?

The Mi-28 and Apache look and work similarly. Both have two seats (pilot in back, gunner in front), stub wings for weapons, and a chin cannon. The Mi-28 is heavier and tougher, while the Apache has better electronics and longer-range weapons. Both are top-tier attack helicopters, but the Apache is much more popular worldwide.

Why armor on a helicopter?

Attack helicopters fly low and slow, where soldiers can shoot at them from the ground. The Mi-28's cockpit is wrapped in armor that can stop 12.7 mm bullets (about half an inch wide). The Russian crew sits in a strong tub that protects them like a tank's armor. This lets the Mi-28 take damage and keep flying home.

Has it been in combat?

Yes. Russian Mi-28s have flown in Syria from 2015, supporting Russian and Syrian ground forces. They have also flown in Ukraine since 2022, where some have been lost to Ukrainian missiles. The Mi-28's tough design has saved many crews who would have died in lighter helicopters.

Variants

Mi-28A (initial 1989, limited)
Original 1989 prototype variant. Limited production, used for development testing through to the mid-1990s.
Mi-28N 'Night Hunter' (current, 2009+)
Principal production variant with night-vision sensors and a chin-mounted FLIR. 100+ delivered since 2009 and the main in-service airframe. Updated cockpit, sensor fit and expanded weapons set.
Mi-28NM (upgrade, 2019+)
Updated variant from 2019 with glass cockpit, expanded sensor suite, improved electronic-warfare protection, and integration of the LMUR / Hermes long-range guided missile. About 30 Mi-28NM in production or service through 2024.
Mi-28UB (two-seat trainer)
Two-seat trainer for Mi-28 conversion training. Around 6 in Russian service.

Notable Operators

Russian Aerospace Forces / Russian Army Aviation
Primary operator with 100+ Mi-28N / Mi-28NM in active service across multiple regiments. Combat-deployed extensively in the Russia-Ukraine war from 2022 to the present.
Algeria
Largest export customer with around 24 Mi-28NE delivered to the Algerian Air Force. Used in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
Kenya, Iraq, Uganda, Senegal, Pakistan (potential)
Export operators include Kenya (6+ delivered), Iraq (15 ordered, deliveries from 2014), Uganda (6 delivered), and Senegal (4 delivered in 2024). Pakistan remains under negotiation.
Future / planned
Russian programme target of 150-200 Mi-28 by 2030, with production continuing at Rostvertol. The Mi-28NM upgrade extends service life through 2040 and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mi-28 compare to AH-64 Apache?

Both are dedicated attack helicopters of similar era and intent. The AH-64 Apache weighs 17,650 lb empty with a 23,000 lb MTOW, carries AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and (in AH-64E form) mounts the AN/APG-78 Longbow radar. The Mi-28 'Havoc' weighs 19,000 lb empty with a 26,000 lb MTOW and carries Vikhr / Ataka anti-tank missiles with a basic radar and sensor fit, upgraded in the Mi-28NM. Apache advantages: (1) more mature mission systems (service since 1986 versus 2009 for the Mi-28); (2) better radar and targeting; (3) manned-unmanned teaming with UAVs in the AH-64E. Mi-28 advantages: (1) lower per-airframe cost; (2) a robust airframe with good cold-weather performance. Both have seen extensive combat employment.

How does Mi-28 differ from Ka-52?

The two follow different design philosophies. The Kamov Ka-52 Alligator uses a coaxial twin-rotor layout with no tail rotor and a side-by-side cockpit, giving it tight manoeuvrability and a small footprint. The Mi-28 'Havoc' takes a conventional single-rotor and tail-rotor layout with tandem seating — a larger but more familiar configuration. Russian Aerospace Forces operates both, using the Mi-28 for the traditional gunship role and the Ka-52 for specialised tasks such as urban combat and naval missions from helicopter carriers. Both have been combat-employed in the Russia-Ukraine war with mixed results.

What is the LMUR / Hermes missile?

LMUR (Russian: 'Лёгкая Многоцелевая Управляемая Ракета' — Light Multi-purpose Guided Missile) is a long-range guided weapon with around 50 nmi range, a far greater reach than earlier Russian helicopter-launched missiles, paired with an updated seeker and a conventional warhead. It serves as Russia's counterpart to the U.S. AGM-179 JAGM, giving attack helicopters a stand-off strike option. Initial integration came on the Mi-28NM and Ka-52M from 2019, with combat employment in the Russia-Ukraine war from 2022 onwards. Effectiveness against modern threat environments has been mixed.

What is Mi-28's combat record in Ukraine?

Performance has been mixed. The Russia-Ukraine war (2022-present) has seen heavy Mi-28 use against Ukrainian armoured forces and other ground missions, with multiple aircraft lost to Ukrainian Stinger and Igla shoulder-fired SAMs and other ground-based defences. Russian doctrine emphasising close-range strikes exposed the Mi-28 to MANPADS engagement; until LMUR fielding the type lacked effective stand-off weapons; and electronic-warfare protection remained limited. The vulnerabilities echo those the Mi-24 'Hind' encountered in the Soviet-Afghan War — modern attack-helicopter missions demand either extensive air-superiority and SEAD support (as U.S. AH-64 sorties enjoyed) or upgraded mission systems and stand-off weapons, which the Mi-28 has been progressively acquiring.

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