The Russian Mi-28 "Night Hunter" attack helicopter has been included in the top three rotary-wing aircraft in the world. It was second only to the American Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian, according to Aero Times, citing the World Air Forces directory.
Mi-28 Flight Characteristics:
- Maximum speed — 300 km/h
- Cruising speed — 265 km/h
- Maximum flight range — 450 km
- Dynamic ceiling — 5600 m
- Rate of climb — 13.6 m/s
The Mi-28 is armed with LMUR "Product 305" guided missiles, and Shturm-V and Ataka-V anti-tank missile systems. It also has a built-in gun armament, represented by the 2A42 gun.
The American Bell AH-1Z Viper also made it into the top three. Fourth and fifth places are occupied by the Franco-German Eurocopter Tiger and the Turkish TAI T129 ATAK. The sixth line is for the Russian Ka-52 "Alligator".
Ka-52 Flight Characteristics:
- Maximum speed — 300 km/h
- Cruising speed — 260 km/h
- Practical range — 460 km
- Dynamic ceiling — 5500 m
- Rate of climb: 15 m/s
The Ka-52's armament includes 2A42 and GSh-23L guns. The pilot launches LMUR "Product 305" guided missiles, Ataka, Shturm-VU, and Vikhr-1 anti-tank missiles, S-13 unguided missiles, and aerial bombs.
The Italian Agusta A129 Mangusta helicopter is in seventh place. The compilers of the World Air Forces directory placed the Russian Mi-24 "Crocodile" in eighth place.
Mi-24 Flight Characteristics:
- Maximum speed — 345 km/h
- Cruising speed — 250 km/h
- Flight range — 450 km
- Dynamic ceiling — 4950 m
- Rate of climb — 11.2 m/s
The Mi-24 carries small arms and cannon armament: GSh-23-2, GSh-30K, YakB-12.7, guided missiles "Shturm-V", "Ataka-M", unguided missiles such as S-5, aerial bombs.
The top 10 also includes the Chinese Changhe Z-10 and the South African Denel Rooivalk.
Read also on the topic:
The new light multipurpose Mi-34 helicopter will replace the Western Airbus and Bell
