File image.
The Russian military has begun to deploy its latest Mi-28NM attack helicopters to hunt down Ukrainian long-range drones.
On September 13, video footage showed one such helicopter taking down two AN-196 Liutyi fixed-wing drones somewhere over the special military operation zone in Ukraine. The first drone was hit by what appears to be an Igla-V missile, while the second was struck by shots from the helicopter’s 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon gun.
The Igla-V is an air-launcher version of the Igla man-portable air defense system. The missiles used by the system are guided via infrared homing and have a fire-and-forget capability. The maximum range of the system is reported to be five kilometers.
Meanwhile, the 2a42, which is mounted in an undernose turret with a wide range of movement, has an effective firing range of two kilometers, but can fire at targets up to four kilometers away.
The gun’s lowest rate of fire is 200–300 rounds per minute and can get as high as 550–800 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 960 meters per second.
With a wingspan of 6,7 meters and a mass up to 300 kg, the Liutyi is considered one of the largest suicide drones currently in service with Kiev forces. It has a range of 1,000-2,000 kilometers and can carry a warhead weighing 50-75 kg. The drone is guided via a GPS-aided inertial navigation system.
Helicopters can fly at low altitudes and speeds which make them very suitable for intercepting slow and aerial targets like drones. Modern attack helicopters in particular are especially effective in this role as they could use their electro-optical targeting systems to detect, track and lock on drones.
In recent months, Ka-52M attack helicopters played a key role in repelling increasing Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territories. The Mi-28NM appears to have joined the hunt now.
While the Ka-52M features a radar in addition to an electro-optical system making it easier for it to hunt down drones, its own 2a42 gun is mounted on the side with much less freedom of movement than that on the Mi-28NM. The Ka-52M is, however, also armed with the Igla-V system.
It is unknown how many Mi-28NMs and Ka-52Ms are currently in service with the Russian military, but the number is generally believed to be way over 200 with mass production of both helicopters ongoing.
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