Helicopter pilots of the Russian Southern Military District’s Army Aviation successfully completed the first test flights of the new combat training helicopters Mil Mi-28UB at one of the airfields in the Krasnodar Territory. During the test flight, the crews worked out take-offs, landings and flights at altitudes of up to 1000 m, checked the flight and manoeuvring characteristics at various speeds, as well as the operation of helicopter systems and mechanisms under loads and overloads. At the next training stage, the newest helicopters will begin to perform fire training tasks in the Kuban combat ranges.
The Mi-28UB (UÄebno-Bojevoj – Combat Training) is a new combat training helicopter designed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. The combat training helicopter is based on the Mi-28NE Night Hunter (NATO reporting name “Havoc”) combat helicopter and is used to train military pilots that require flight practice on Night Hunter helicopters. It can also serve as an attack helicopter, performing search-and-destroy missions against land-based targets, small naval vessels and low-speed aerial targets during the day or night and in all weather conditions. The Russian Defence Ministry signed a contract with Russian Helicopters for 24 Mi-28UB helicopters in April 2016. The first batch of eight Mi-28UB helicopters was delivered in November 2017.
Mi-28UB is distinguished by dual control system which allows operating the craft from the commander’s and second pilot’s cockpit. It provides for training of military pilots who need flight time on Mi-28N. Besides, the second pilot can fly the helicopter in case of an emergency in combat conditions. The helicopter has a breakdown imitation panel to model malfunctions and improve the skills in a crisis situation. Mi-28UB has upgraded integrated onboard electronic equipment. It provides for efficient search, detection, identification and destruction of air and ground targets. The necessary ergonomics of the crew seats are ensured by a change in the helicopter fuselage. Mi-28UB has an expanded cockpit, bigger space of armored windscreen and better view from the second pilot’s seat.
