Ukrainian forces are believed to have shot down a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter (NATO reporting name “Havoc”) using a Mobile Air Defense System (MANPAD).
This is the first time that a Mi-28 helicopter has lost its image during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Unfortunately, the exact location and date of the helicopter crash are not known, but some sources note that the helicopter was shot down near Kirovsk in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.
– ADVERTISING – READ MORE BELOW –
The Mil Mi-28 (NATO reporting name “Havoc”) is a two-seat Russian all-weather, day and nighttime anti-armor attack helicopter. It was an attack helicopter carrying a single gun in the barrel under the nose, plus the external payload was carried on pylons below the stub.
Screencaps 1-4: Missile (MANPADS?) Appears, impacts on Mi-28, small fire where fuselage meets tail boom, tail boom explodes pic.twitter.com/JclPYNcHvR
– Mike Yeo (@TheBaseLeg) April 1, 2022
The Mi-28 has a fully armored cabin, including the windshield, which can withstand the impact of 7.62mm and 12.7mm bullets and 20mm shrapnel.
Pilots use a helmet-mounted target designation device to assign targets to the pilot’s fire control and monitoring system. The navigation/weapon officer can then deploy a guided weapon or gun against the target. The targeting system follows the pilot’s eye direction.
