BY News Desk
(IHS Janes)Pakistan has shown interest in acquiring the latest Russian Mil Mi-28NE Night Hunter dual-control variant of the Mil Mi-28 attack helicopter. IHS Jane's reported on 24 March citing a Pakistani diplomatic source .
Due to its ballistic and radio-electronic protection, dual-control variant of Mi-28NE meets the Pakistani armed
forces' requirements for a platform in counter-terrorism operations. The dual-control Mi-28NE's advanced ballistic protection kit allows the
helicopter to withstand several hits from 23 mm (airframe) and 30 mm
(composite rotor blades) shells. Apart from it, its combat
effectiveness has been improved over the basic Mi-28NE as both the pilot and gunner can control the aircraft.
Such features can significantly enhance the level of a helicopter's
survivability on the modern battlefield, where adversaries frequently
have anti-aircraft guns and man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS).
Russia has previously offered Pakistan four Mi-28NEs without dual controls to support Islamabad's counter-terrorism operations: an offer that fostered resentment from India. The source noted that, although that offer was not furthered, when Rostvertol, Mil's parent company, launched serial production of the dual-control Mi-28NE, "Pakistan showed its intention to take the issue from the table".
In 2015 Islamabad signed a contract with Russian defence export agency Rosoboronexport for four Mi-35M ('Hind-J') attack helicopters, the deliveries of which are scheduled for 2016.
Russia has previously offered Pakistan four Mi-28NEs without dual controls to support Islamabad's counter-terrorism operations: an offer that fostered resentment from India. The source noted that, although that offer was not furthered, when Rostvertol, Mil's parent company, launched serial production of the dual-control Mi-28NE, "Pakistan showed its intention to take the issue from the table".
In 2015 Islamabad signed a contract with Russian defence export agency Rosoboronexport for four Mi-35M ('Hind-J') attack helicopters, the deliveries of which are scheduled for 2016.
