ROSTOV-ON-DON/MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax-AVN) - The Rostvertol production enterprise and Moscow-based Mil helicopter plant intend to complete the bulk of the factory tests of the first prototype of the MI-28N Night Hunter combat helicopter this year, a Rostvertol spokesman told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
The state joint trials of the helicopter have been scheduled for 2003. A second standard MI-28N all-weather attack helicopter is to be built at Rostvertol before the end of the year in order to accelerate the state tests of the aircraft. Some 8% of the project's cost are to be financed by the state within the framework of the state defense order, a high-ranking official of the Russian helicopter-building industry told Interfax-AVN.
The second MI-28N helicopter will be fitted with a new carrier system, including main rotor blades, swashplate and main rotor hub. The aircraft is also to be equipped with an anti-surge system that is to be included in the engine automatic control system; it will have a new fuel system. In case the development of the VK-2500 engine is completed during the trails of the MI- 28N Havoc helicopter, flight tests will be conducted with the employment of the new more powerful engine.
The second Mi-28N Havoc helicopter will be used for testing avionics and armament of the aircraft, including the new over-hub Arbalet-type radar unit.
Rostvertol Deputy Director General Andrei Shibitov told Interfax-AVN that the enterprise was very much interested in short terms of launching mass-production of MI-28 Havoc helicopters, for the several countries have already announced their intentions to procure the aircraft. That is why Rostvertol made a decision to allocate funds for the development of the second helicopter. In case the production and test program is hindered, potential customers might lose interest in the project, Shibitov added.
The MI-28N helicopter can be used day and night in any weather conditions. Its armament is completely renewed and features new Ataka missiles, air-to-air missiles, on-board fifth generation electronic equipment, the Platan radar and a new sight which helps find, identify and attack targets at night.
For the first time in the history of Russian helicopter production the MI-28N uses synthesized detection of 3D view of the terrain which enables the helicopter to fly at the altitude of 5 to 15 meters in the automatic terrain-doubling mode. The MI- 28N's main rotor is made of fiberglass and is capable of operating even after being hit by up to 30mm shells.