Russia Is Arming Its Helicopters With Air-to-Air Missiles

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By Michael Peck,The National Interest

Russia is arming its newest attack helicopter with air-to-air guided missiles.

The Mi-28NM “Night Hunter” will be armed with the same R-74M heat-seeking missiles designed for advanced jet fighters, according to Russian media. But some experts warn that the United States armed its helicopters with anti-aircraft missiles during the Cold War, and that using choppers for air combat isn’t as easy as it looks.

“The latest Russian Mi-28NM attack helicopter will turn into a fighter capable of handling enemy aircraft, drones and cruise missiles,” according to state-owned newspaper Izvestia, citing Russian defense industry sources. “Powerful R-74M ammunition will be installed on board the rotorcraft to destroy air targets. They are able to bring down even fifth-generation aircraft.”

The Mi-28NM is an upgrade of the Mi-28 Havoc—the leaner successor to the chunky but tough Mi-24 Hind “flying tank” of Cold War fame. The Mi-28NM has a mast-mounted fire control radar for night operations. The R-74M—also known as the RVV-MD—is an upgraded R-73 (NATO code name: AA-11 Archer) short-range, infrared-homing air-to-air missile. The Archer, with a reported range of about twenty-four miles and an off-boresight capability that allows it to lock on to targets to the side of the launch aircraft rather than just in front, can be a dangerous weapon in a close-range dogfight.

The “R-74M was originally developed taking into account the possibility of defeating fifth-generation fighters F-35 and F-22,” Izvestia said. “Neither an attempt to escape the afterburner nor intensive maneuvering will save the rocket. The homing head is not afraid of electronic interference and thermal decoys imitating the enemy.”