Russian army Southern district receives Mi-28UB helicopter.

The 4th air force and defense army of the Southern Military District received Mil Mi-28UB training helicopter. The rotorcraft is deployed in the air regiment in Krasnodar region, the Defense Ministry said. “In 2020, the Southern district received over 20 aircraft, including helicopters and tactical and assault airplanes,” it said.

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Mil Mi-28UB training helicopter displayed at MAKS 2013 (Picture source: undisclosed)

The Mi-28UB is a new combat training helicopter designed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. It is based on the Mi-28NE Night Hunter combat helicopter and is used to train military pilots that require flight practice on Night Hunter helicopters.

Its design began in 2010. 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. The latest onboard defense complex ensures higher survivability of Mi-28UB.

Rostvertol, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters, successfully conducted the first demonstration flight of the Mi-28UB helicopter in August 2013 at its flight test facility in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Russian Helicopters unveiled the Mi-28UB helicopter to the public at the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS 2013). 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. Production on the second batch of helicopters began in March 2018. The Russian Ministry of Defence planned to acquire up to 60 Mi-28 UB helicopters for the Russian Air Force by 2020.