MOSCOW. March 21 (Interfax) - Russia's upgraded Mil Mi-28NM Night Hunter attack helicopter will undergo tests in Syria, the newspaper Izvestia said on Thursday.
"A prototype [of this helicopter] has already been delivered to the Hmeimim airbase in Syria," the newspaper said, citing sources in the Russian Defense Ministry and the helicopter industry.
According to Izvestia, the upgraded Night Hunter will be tested in high temperatures and dust storms of Syria's desert. Its control system, new radar equipment and weapons systems will be tested as well.
Interfax reported on March 7 that the Russian Defense Ministry and Russian Helicopters had agreed on the price of Mi-28NM helicopters, and a serial contract would be concluded.
The Mi-28NM is the latest modification of the Mi-28N Night Hunter helicopter. Work on this helicopter began in 2009. It was reported that it would be equipped with a totally new locator, which allowing for round vision, new high-precision weapons, a modern command system and a "glass cabin," having practically no mechanical gauges or classic control panels.