Mi-28NM. Photo: russianplanes.net / Alexey
The Russian military tested more than 320 different weapons during the Syria operation, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu revealed on July 14.
The minister revealed the information during a meeting with the employees of Rostvertol, Russia’s main helicopter manufacturer.
“We checked more than 320 types of different weapons, including, by the way, your helicopters,” Shoygu said at the meeting, according to the TASS news agency.
According to the Russian Defense Minister, attack helicopters produced by Rostvertol were refined, “at least in terms of weapons,” after taking part in the operation in Syria.
The minister explained that the safety of attack helicopters was improved by arming them with new weapons that can operate at a longer range than air defense systems or MANPADs [Man-portable air-defense systems].
“Now we have such weapons, thanks to the operation in Syria, thanks to you who do it,” Shoigu told the Rostvertol employees.
Shoygu was most likely referring to the advanced Izdeliya 305 cruise missile. Upgraded Mi-28NM and Ka-52M attack helicopters will be armed with the new guided missile, which will reportedly have a whopping range of 100 km.
The experience gained from the Syria operation enable the Russian military to upgrade many of its existing systems. New weapons system were also developed as result of the operation.
