Mi-28N against the "Apache" Bashny.Net

Mi-28N

Attack helicopters "Apache" and "Night Stalker" (NATO designation - «Havoc») - car single-rotor design with fixed landing gear and tail wheel, 2 engines in nacelles on the sides of the fuselage, tandem arrangement of the crew, the X-shaped tail rotor. "Hunter" almost 3 tons heavier than American, but it more powerful engines (2 of 2200 to 2 hp to 1930 hp); power-to-take-off weight at it's best that uniquely characterizes a higher structural perfection of the aircraft and its flight characteristics. Yes, and the maximum combat load the "Apache" - 771 kg, while the "Mi" - 2300 kg.



AH-64A Apache

View from the cockpit at the "Apache" is limited to forward-and-down and back; the "Mi" review of better and closer to the faces of the crew glazing panels. Square glazing over from the Americans, it has a convex panel and the "Mi" are flat, that can create glare in the cockpit unidirectional beam ("searchlight effect") that prevent reading devices. Overall, the review is about the same in both.
Above the rotor hub "Hunter" - a radar station in a spherical fairing, the "Apache" it into a thick "cake." In fact, the two helicopters are very similar in appearance, distance from a certain point of view they can be even confused. Funny patriotic opinions of others, such as "Best detection system and allowed the Americans to remove the sighting of a helicopter over the armor and increment skorostenku».
So "skorostenka": the "Apache" maximum - 365 km / h, at the Mi-28N - 324 km / h, that is, the difference is small, but they have the same cruising - 260 km / h.



AH-64A Apache

But the Yankees' surplus armor "is not cleaned, it was not simple, because their approach to armor combat helicopters completely different than ours. Their designers armor cover only the crew, and sometimes it does not exist at all; it is believed that the salvation of rotorcraft in combat - it stealth and maneuverability. And if you overtake an enemy shell, it is easy to let in and let out a thin wall panel board. And what if at the point of entry of the projectile sits pilot? Or is a vital node? Under the conditions of saturated air defense weapons of modern warfare at the armored helicopter more likely to survive than its more maneuverable, stealthy, but poorly protected counterpart.
By Western standards, "Apache" armored well: cabin crew covered the sides and bottom of Kevlar armor plates and poliakrilatovymi to withstand hit a 23-mm projectile. The engine and transmission are not armored, there is the principle of the protection of more important nodes design less important, many details of oversized and have high strength, also sustaining hits 23-mm projectile. The emphasis on this caliber is not made by accident, by the experience of war of the twentieth century for the helicopter is the most dangerous anti-aircraft artillery type ZSU-23-4 "Shilka". "Apache" has a large number of flat surfaces and a special matte dark green color, reducing blikoobrazovanie. Americans believe that offset weak armor small enough visibility of the helicopter and its good maneuverability (by the way, "Hunter" visibility in all ranges of the same).



Mi-28N

Mil came to booking the old principle of Russian arms "porridge butter will not spoil": bronekabina crew ("Bath") is fully protected 10-mm aluminum sheets, which are glued to a 16-mm ceramic tiles; the door - of the two layers of aluminum and a layer of polyurethane armor therebetween; windshields - silicate blocks 42 mm thick, the side windows - the same blocks 22 mm thick. Both cabins are separated by 10-mm aluminum armor plate to exclude destruction of both pilots with one stone. Fire tests have shown that the board kept the bullets hit the US 20-mm machine gun "Volcano", the windshield - 12 caliber bullets, 7mm side windows - 7, 62 mm. Such protection has neither a foreign helicopter. "Apache" and slipping their way from 12, 7 mm DShK (tested in Afghanistan in March of 2002, "Operation Anaconda"). "From 7 involved AN-64A were damaged 4, one made an emergency landing, departure by only 1, 5 km from the scene of the battle. It counted 13 bullet holes from the ANC, was punched bulletproof cockpit. " The same applies to the "Apache Longbow": Iraq shoot them down gun CPV (14, 5 mm) and "Strela-3", while even the old "crocodiles" Mi-24 fire in Chechnya kept ZU-23-2, direct hits ATGM, RPG grenades, "Stinger" and "Eagle».
By the way, despite the heavy armor, "Mi" turns better than "Apache". The fact that the maneuverability vertibird strongly affects the magnitude of separation joints of the rotor: the larger it is, the higher and maneuverability. So, dressing hinges have "Apache" - 4%, and "Mi" - 6%; its five-blade main rotor is more efficient than the four-bladed "Indian", especially at low speeds; He successfully carries out complex aerobatics figures (loop Nesterova, barrel Immelmann), which is important for anti-missile maneuver in battle; Due to the special design of propellers and flight noise reduction system it is virtually silent; vibration he also less, which is important when aiming.



Mi-28N

Mi-28A for the sighting and navigation equipment was significantly worse than the competitor with the system TADS / PNVS, makes good use of weapons and safely pilot the car round the clock at all altitudes, comprising an optical system aiming an infrared night vision system, TV system for low-light conditions, laser rangefinder-pointer. "Apaches" were known for their efficient equipment. However, at the first mass use of night during the "Desert Storm" was lost at least 5 cars with night vision systems (cut into the dunes or collided in the air), it is obvious, the system did not provide the crew safe. These machines were predecessors of the current "Apache Longbow", which can justifiably be called a helicopter at night with modern weapon control systems; his trump card - nadvtulochny radar "Longbow" millimeter wave a high resolution, which allows in addition to night hunting to perform reconnaissance missions like aircraft "AWACS».
We have all of this was not in sight; but time did not go to waste ... To illustrate: Imagine a warrior, quietly but quickly running in the dark over rough terrain, and striking at random one after another opponents. This - the Mi-28N "Night Hunter" with a brand new Russian-board equipment. Now it is the only helicopter in the world, capable of both manual and automatic fly at a height of 5 meters with terrain following day and night, in adverse weather conditions, with a constant search, identification, destruction of ground and air targets, and delivery targeting other participants in the battle. Installed multifunction radar "Crossbow" warns of obstacles: detached trees and wires of power lines; detached person she sees at night for 500 m; terrain - a few tens of kilometers. For the same purpose - night vision goggles and thermal imaging piloting station, which gives "the infrared window on the night of" forward on the course or in the direction of rotation of the head of the pilot. Radar allows you to search for goals, working together with the OPS (optical-sighting system), "Rotor". For clarity: "Hunter", humming quietly, hanging behind the trees, putting in an ambush only a "crown" - the ball radar. Define goals, distributing them among the participating in the attack helicopters by themselves targets for attack, he vigorously "jumps" up and "processes" means the purpose of destruction.
The machine has a mapping system with high-resolution digital data bank and terrain in the area of ​​fighting. The computer generates the three-dimensional image of an area over which the helicopter is that it is easy to be confirmed by means of satellite navigation, combined with the inertial system consisting of a physical orientation of the Earth's field. All information is given to the crew on the color display (of 3 in each cockpit). Each of these tools can be used independently, but the main mode - a synthesis mapping, thermal imaging and radar data with on-screen three-dimensional images in a convenient location for a pilot. Performance characteristics of equipment should be estimated to provide conditions for safe piloting at extremely low altitude. Search and recognition purposes is the newest OPS optical, television, thermal imaging and laser monitoring channels. All channels (except optical) is fed digital information on the screen and the system automation identification purposes. Aggregate data is provided to the navigator-operator, who decides on the use of weapons. The equipment communicates with all parties to the operation itself, the helicopter can receive target designation and from external sources. All this allows him to work at heights of 5 to 15 m in combat formations of troops to conduct operations with assault landing and without, as it were, to shoot from the corner, do not come into direct contact with the purpose of not putting themselves at risk. In addition, the radar "Hunter" as opposed to "Apache" is able to solve the flight control and navigation tasks.



AH-64A Apache

Both helicopters armament consisting of guns, guided and unguided missiles, outwardly very similar and even suspended similar.
Cannons at first glance, are about the same: it is moving Single-barrel automatic guns of 30 mm caliber, established under the "chin" of the helicopter on the turret with approximately the same angles of fire, working in sync with the gun. In fact, the difference between them is enormous.
"Apache" is armed with a gun M230, designed specifically for it; it is a relatively easy instrument of a mass of 54 kg with a rate of 625 rds. / min., effective range at ground targets 3000 m; its shortcomings - poor precision / accuracy of firing, a relatively small initial velocity of the projectile and the lack of power. This is offset by a large ammunition (stating that when shooting with small distances it is more important). It was reported on adaptation under the M230 ammunition with uranium core.



Mi-28N

In "Mi" is set a modified tank gun 2A42, long and successfully fighting on the Russian infantry fighting vehicles / landing and Mi-24 helicopters. It is twice as heavy as the US (115 kg). Placing it on the outside of the turret is extremely difficult, because the returns (much higher than the purely aircraft guns) rocks the helicopter, degrading accuracy. However, designers have successfully coped with the problem, and accuracy at the "Hunter" is higher than that of "Indian." Of course, the installation on the helicopter tank gun is unusual, and the reproaches about this rife. However, Mil, following the same tradition of "Porridge oil will not spoil," consider this decision to be justified.
First, the data on ballistic 2A42 far ahead of the American guns. It has the weight of the projectile - 0, 24 kg, the "Mi" - twice - 0, 4 kg; minute volley "Apache" - 147 kg, "Mi" - twice - 301 kg; and range from "Mi" more - 4000 m; the initial velocity of the projectile at the "Apache" - 550 m / sec., the "Mi" - almost twice as much - 980 m / sec., which provides exceptional accuracy and high armor penetration (projectile at a distance of 1500 m hit 15-mm steel armor).
Second, the "Apache" can fire only in short bursts as a result of the threat of overheating guns. High barrel life "Hunter" allows if necessary to release without intermediate cooling ammunition all at once, and it can play a decisive role in the battle.
Third, the cannon 2A42 works reliably in dusty conditions that were well tested in Afghanistan. As she came in handy in a helicopter, the specifics of which is firing with extremely low altitudes in a dusty environment, independent basing on dirt floors with limited maintenance capabilities. As chief designer of the Mi-28, Mark V. Weinberg (now unfortunately deceased), "the machine is designed for ordinary Mamedov." Please, no offense: the above applies equally to the "ordinary Doe"; we are talking about the harsh reality of this war, not the sweet fantasies overseas films. So, the gun "Apache" and does not tolerate pollution, and rough handling, often wedge (which is the case in Iraq). War - a dirty business, and as long as "Apache" flies to work with well-kept grounds, possible under the conditions of small wars, when the "wet" obviously weaker opponent, CNN En shows in their propaganda materials, like all good at it.
The downside of "Hunter" is called a smaller ammunition (380 rounds in 1200 against the "Apache"). But, given the higher efficiency of its instruments (by 3-4 times) for the purpose of destroying it and shells require less: Cannon has a variable rate (900 rds. / Min of air and 300 - on ground targets); by selective ammunition supply of the two ammunition boxes, you can select the type of projectile (armor-piercing or high-explosive), right in the battle, depending on the purpose and, therefore, more economical use of ammunition. The efficiency of target destruction is increased by 30%, a smaller stock of shells is completely offset their rational use. In addition, the ammunition supply of ammunition boxes, fixed on the gun (short feed path shells), significantly improves reliability.
Perhaps now 2A42 is the most powerful helicopter gun in the world, affecting safe light- and lightly-target at a distance of 4 km. But for the Mi-28N has developed an improved instrument of the caliber of 30 mm.



AH-64A Apache

So judge for yourself what the outcome of a hypothetical duel both helicopters guns. In figurative expression of one of the Russian aviaoruzheynikov, "our gun - a heavy machine gun, and their gun - shotgun».
On 4 external units both suspended from helicopters other weapons, their main gauge - 16 ATGM (anti-tank guided missiles).
The "Mi" is a high-precision supersonic missile "Ataka-V" with the radio command guidance enhanced noise immunity having several advantages over laser - working in the smoke, dust, fog; range - up to 8 km; missile strikes and aerial targets. Installation of ATGM "Whirlwind" with laser guidance. For the "Hunter" has developed a new anti-tank "Attack-D" with increased up to 10 km range: the new machine equipment provides search point targets at such a distance. Penetration of these missiles is roughly the same - up to 1000 mm for dynamic protection from any angle.
Chief caliber "Apache" - missile Hellfire AGM-114A laser-guided for the day, however, when atmospheric pollution its use problematic. Missile AGM-114B radar-guided became possible (thanks to the new radar) used at night and in all weather conditions. The crew, taking on board both types of missiles during combat can choose the best. In addition to the missiles AGM-114 "Apache" it will be possible to arm a missile "Hellfire-II» (designed for advanced helicopter "Comanche") with active guidance system and the application of the principle of "fire and forget", which gives the car the ability to immediately after start-up to leave for the shelter . All family ATGM "Hellfire" - good missile, capable of hitting armored targets from a distance of 6 km 7 (armor penetration of up to 1000 mm), effective in shooting at moving small targets, fortifications and so on. But they have one major drawback - subsonic speed. This greatly increases the attack, especially at long distances, increasing the vulnerability of helicopters. So, 4 km distance the rocket flies for 15 sec., While the Russian "whirlwind" it takes just 9 seconds.

Both helicopters can carry unguided rockets:
 - "Apache" - caliber 70 mm, standard for all US Air Force attack helicopters, one flight he may take 4 units of 76 pcs .;
 - "Ni" - 57 mm caliber (128 pcs.), 80 mm (80 pcs.) And 122 mm (20 pcs.) And the two air cannons (23 mm) in the containers 250 ammunition shells. Thanks to the latest electronics helicopter firepower it can be extended.
To combat air targets "Apache" arming famous "Stinger" ("fire and forget), as well as missile" Sidewinder "class" air-to-air "(range up to 20 km); "Night Hunter" - a supersonic missile "Igla" ("fire and forget"), as well as R-73 "air-air" (distance 30 km) effectively engage airborne targets, maneuvering with an overload of up to 12 g in the range of velocities from 0 (helicopter hovering) up to 2500 km / h, and the missiles "air-surface". "Mi" can carry anti-radar missiles Kh-25L with the guidance of how to use your radar, as well as through external targeting to achieve greater range start. Most likely, the rocket of the same type can be used, and "Apache».
"Hunter" can conduct setting minefields of hanging containers.