Iraq Using Mil Mi-28 Attack Helicopters Against Daesh

AINonline ^ | July 05, 2016 | Vladimir Karnozov

[sukhoi-30mki]

The Iraq defense ministry reported that Mil-28N attack helicopters received recently from Russia played an important part in the recent recapture of Fallujah and Ramadi from Islamic State or Daesh. Iraq is the first export customer for the Mi-28NE, having bought 15 of them as part of a package worth more than $1billion that was agreed in 2012, and that also included 28 Mi-35 attack helicopters.

Iraq received the first of 11 factory-standard Mi-28NEs in 2014. The remaining four are improved Mi-28NME night-fighting versions additionally equipped with a mast-mounted radar and dual flight controls, for two pilots in tandem seating (a configuration that is also available on the Mi-28UB operational trainer). Shipments of the Mi-28NME to Iraq began last year, ahead of any deliveries to the Russian armed forces. Algeria is a second export customer for the Mi-28NME, having ordered 42.

The factory-standard Mi-28NE comes with the OPS-28 Thor night-vision suite integrated by the Zverev’s Krasnogorsk Plant. It includes the UOMZ TOES-521 FLIR and Ramenskoye PKB automated thermal imaging sight “ATT.” The Thor enables the helicopter to engage targets at night at a maximum distance of 10 km. The Mi-28NME also carries an N-025E radar supplied by the Ryazan-based GRPZ (a member in KRET corporation). This radar has an advertised range of 20 km and the ability to track four targets simultaneously. Besides, the Mi-28NME comes with the advanced EW suite Vitebsk and higher-powered Klimov VK2500 engines in place of Ukrainian-built TV3-117s, which makes it comparable in combat lethality to the Boeing AH-64E Longbow.

The Russian armed forces have been using a few Mi-28NEs in Syria since April 2016, mostly in the Palmyra (Tadmor) region. One was lost on April 12, the cause having been traced to pilot error when flying at extremely low altitude at night.

The Iraqi air force has been using its Mi-28NEs against the Islamic State (Daesh) since March of this year. The Mi-28 is primarily intended to act against armor. In most instances of combat use in Syria and Iraq, these machines are employed on close air support missions, often against stationary targets such as artillery and infantry positions, and fortifications.

Night use has been rare, but both Russian and Iraqi defense ministries released cockpit videos in which Mi-28s hit moving targets in low-visibility conditions using Kolomna KBM 9M120 Ataka guided anti-tank missiles and 30-mm shells fired from the 2A42 turret-mounted cannon. The most recently released footage shows a radar-equipped Mi-28NME of the Iraqi air force shelling Daesh positions in the Fallujah area with 80-mm unguided rockets.

[sukhoi-30mki]

An Mi-28N gunship of the Iraqi army flying low over the western Iraqi desert. Iraqi army photo via ACIG.info

[katana]

Fully armed it looks like a pretty lethal machine.

[Enlightened1]

Looks like a Russian version of the Apache helicopter.

I’m sure the House of Saud is not pleased their Proxy Army ISIS is getting mopped up.

[Red Badger]

I want one!........................or two....................

[Flintlock]

I thought the bad guys had MANPADS?

[fella]

As Fallujah fell a 700 vehicle ISIS convoy headed for Syria. Our Iraqi allies called us for air support to take it out and we refused. So these choppers were sent in and did the job. Not as well but Well Enough.

[Red Badger]

Not many........................

[DAC21]

The video of the ISIL convoy getting hit last week with the Defense Dept taking credit for it. To me it looked like Copters were doing the damage. Are we flying Apaches in Iraq? I’m wondering if it wasn’t actually the Iraqi’s flying these Russian Copters that were taking it to ISIL?

[Don_Ret_USAF]

What a field day a couple of A-10s could of had.

[AC Beach Patrol]

AC-130.

[AC Beach Patrol]

In lieu of an AC-130 and A-10's, I'd pick some thermobaric weapons. I can't think of a more appropriate scenario to use them.

Cover these ISIS murderers in orange, just as they like to do to their victims.

[spetznaz]

Iraq is the first export customer for the Mi-28NE, having bought 15 of them as part of a package worth more than $1billion that was agreed in 2012, and that also included 28 Mi-35 attack helicopters.

Not accurate. The first export customer for the Havoc was the Kenyan government, which evaluated them (together with the Kamov KA-50) a whole year before the Iraqi government did, and bought them months before the Iraqis.

The Havocs have been used against the Al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda linked grouped in Somalia, with great success. I believe Kenya was also the first country to use the type in anger, the Jihadis have come to fear the Havoc more than the old F-5Es that we use (which are due for replacement, with some interesting contenders at play).

Another interesting development is that the long-discussed purchase of Merkava IVs by Kenya may finally be going ahead. The tank was evaluated in 2011 once Israel agreed to put the MBT type for sale, but final purchase never occurred. Netanyahu just left Kenya this morning (Kenya is Israel's strongest ally in Africa, and for a number of decades its only ally), and some of the discussions involved counter-terrorism and arms.

Anyway, the Havoc has been mopping up jihadis for years now.

Kenyan Havocs.

[Enlightened1]

I would love to see the side by side comparison of an Apache vs. a Havoc and overall cost.

Hardware wise it’ probably very similar for the most part. I’m not so sure about the software, man hours on the ground and cost.

[Red Badger]

CRY HAVOC, AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR!.............................

[spetznaz]

The Apache is a more advanced platform in terms of sensors, and supports weapons that are generally more advanced than what the Havoc has. More and more, weapons are about systems and sensors, and the Apache fits better in the system that the US employs, and has better sensors.

With that said, against soft targets and armor, the Havoc is still good enough and definitely combat effective. It has a longer range, faster speed and can carry more. While its sensors are not as good as the Apache's, they are good enough to wreak havoc on the type of enemies both the Apache and Havoc would be facing, including nighttime conditions. Importantly, it is cheaper.

Thus, which is better?

For the US (and the likes of Britain that use it), the Apache is the best. It fits perfectly into their networked war approach, and has very good sensors.

For countries like Kenya though, where cost is a key factor for consideration, the Havoc is worth its weight in gold. It provides close to the same performance as the Apache, close to the same sensor ability, close to the same network capability, provides longer range, and at a cheaper price. Just as important, it is for sale while the Apache is not (interestingly, while the Apache was not, the F-16 apparently is the leading contender for our F-5 replacement, but that's another story).

Thus, while both are effective kit, the Apache is the best solution for the US/UK while the Havoc is the best solution for the likes of Kenya/Iraq.

Interestingly, countries like Israel straddle the middle. While Israel uses the Apache, I am certain that if they got their hands on a Havoc and worked on it they would end up with something that has the sensors of an Apache and the range of the Havoc. In the same way I have always said that the best thing the Russians could do for the PakFa would be to hand it over to the Israelis. But that's another story.