The Mi-28 came to a rest inverted, just a few kilometres from the airfield.
On Dec. 11, 2019 a Mil Mi-28 (NATO reporting name: Havoc) attack helicopter (bort number 17 red) of the 55th separate helicopter regiment of the Army Aviation of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army of the Southern Military District, crashed. The helicopter was based at Korenovsk airfield near Krasnodar (Russia).
The Mi-28 came to a rest inverted, just a few kilometres from the airfield. According to Scramble Magazine, both crew members, Lieutenant Colonel A.V., deputy commander of the 55th regiment and Major R.A. Kushnirenko, deputy commander of the 1st helicopter squadron, died from their injuries. The crash took place at night and in low visibility.
Delivered to the 155th separate regiment in October 2019, the crashed helicopter was one of the newest Mi-28UB helicopters built by Rostvertol JSC and by the time of the mishap, the helicopter had only logged 29 flying hours.
In total the Russian Air and Space Force (RuASF) received some sixteen Mi-28UB helicopters. The 55th separate helicopter regiment received four Mi-28UB helicopters with code numbers from “14” to “17” red in 2019. From 2008 to 2017, the Russian Aerospace Forces received at least 104 Mi-28N attack helicopters, of which four helicopters were lost in flying accidents (including two in Syria).
The Mi-28 is a modern attack helicopter designed to carry out search and destroy operations against tanks, armoured and un-armoured vehicles, and enemy personnel in combat, as well as low-speed airborne targets. It can operate night and day, and in adverse weather conditions.
The Havoc is designed for the following missions:
- providing fire support for forward ground forces;
- acting as part of the anti-tank reserve;
- accompanying and supporting tactical airborne assault and airborne assault force units;
- combating enemy tactical airborne assault forces;
- combating low-speed, low-altitude airborne targets.
The main targets for the Mi-28 are:
- tanks, self-propelled artillery, and military anti-air defence units;
- armoured infantry vehicles, APCs, and vehicles;
- individual weapons (launchers), field and nuclear artillery batteries;
- light military equipment (individual targets);
- enemy personnel;
- helicopters and low-altitude, low-speed airborne planes.
Photo credit: BMPD Live Journal
