KUBINKA (Moscow region). Aug 21 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Helicopters Holding, an affiliate of the Rostec state corporation, unveils the modernized attack helicopters Mil Mi-35M and Mi-35P at the Army 2018 international military-technical forum, the holding said in a statement on Tuesday.
The helicopters have modernized avionics and new weapon systems, the holding said.
"The Mil Mi-24 multirole military transport helicopter [the Mi-35 export modification] has become the first domestic helicopter specially designed for combat," Anatoly Serdyukov, the industrial director of Rostec's aviation cluster, said.
"Its design was so successful that it remained one of the most popular vehicles in the world; its high efficiency has been proven on the battlefield many times. We are expecting new modifications of the helicopter with improved performance characteristics to be high in demand in many countries," Serdyukov said.
The modernized Mi-35P helicopter has the OPS-24N-1L target sight system with a third-generation matrix long-wavelength thermal imager, TV camera, and laser ranging device. The new digital piloting complex based on the PKV-8 auto-pilot system improves the helicopter's controllability and stability, and automates the piloting process, while the modernized sighting computer system increases the precision of target destruction, the holding said.
The modernized Mil Mi-35M has broader equipment options. The helicopter can carry Igla-S air-to-air guided missiles and the Prezident-S defense system with a laser station suppressing thermal homing warheads of MANPADS missiles. There is a VOR/ILS option, and a radar range finder for measuring range between the helicopter and ground radio beacons.
"Mil Mi-24/25 helicopters are one of the world's most frequently used on the battlefield; they have participated in over 30 wars and military conflicts. The vast combat experience has enabled us to bring the platform to perfection, and we are continuously equipping them with new weapons and avionics. As soon as trials prove the success of modifications, mass production of modernized helicopters will begin," Russian Helicopters Holding General Director Andrei Boginsky said.