Russia's Mi‑28N helicopters gain edge with new Kh‑39 missile

Footage reveals the Mi-28N helicopter, known as the Night Hunter, armed with the latest Kh-39 missile, which boasts a range of 14 kilometres. This marks a significant improvement over older Russian technologies.

The new missile has an extended range and reportedly features an optoelectronic sensor with both daylight and thermal imaging capabilities to detect a target's thermal signature.

This "fire-and-forget" design represents a leap forward for Russia, which previously relied on laser beam guidance, which required continuous target illumination until impact.

Additionally, the missile is said to have a communication link enabling it to survey an area without initially selecting a target, allowing the pilot to designate one later. Inertial and satellite navigation modules facilitate this function.

This new design is expected to weigh 105 kilograms, a notable increase compared to the 9M120 Ataka missile, which weighs 49 kilograms with the launch tube. Consequently, as with older models, the Mi-28N will carry a maximum of eight missiles instead of sixteen. The high-explosive warhead version is estimated at 25 kilograms, with a tandem cumulative variant also considered.

On paper, this seems to be Russia's equivalent to the Brimstone or new versions of the AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. However, given Russia's struggles with simpler technologies, the question remains whether Russia can mass-produce such a complex missile.

Mi-28N is among Russia's three modern combat helicopters, alongside models like the Ka-52 Alligator and the Mi-35, an enhanced version of the Mi-24. The development of the Mi-28N started in the 1980s, but it was not delivered to the Russian Air Force until 2006 when it officially entered service in 2009.

The Mi-28N helicopter features a traditional narrow fuselage design with a large main rotor and a smaller tail rotor. The crew comprises two pilots seated in tandem, a configuration popularized by the American AH-1 Cobra.

The crew cabin is armoured and, according to Russian claims, can withstand fire from 12.7 mm calibre machine guns and shrapnel. The helicopter is also outfitted for nocturnal operations, with pilots equipped with helmet-mounted sights that enhance target acquisition speed.

The Mi-28N's primary armament includes a 30 mm 2A42 cannon mounted at the helicopter's front, with a magazine capacity of 250 rounds and four pylons on its stub wings for additional armament.

For tracking, the Mi-28N utilizes an optoelectronic head with a thermal camera and laser rangefinder on the helicopter's nose. In addition, an N025 radar positioned above the main rotor is capable of tracking ten objects simultaneously and engaging two at once. Moreover, onboard detectors identify laser beams and radar emissions, alerting the pilot to enemy targeting attempts.