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7 Things You Didn’t Know About the Mil Mi-28NM ‘Night Hunter’

7 things you didn’t know about the Mil Mi-28NM ‘Night Hunter’

Mikkel Preisler
By Mikkel Preisler 29. June 2025

The Mil Mi-28NM “Night Hunter” is one of Russia’s most formidable attack helicopters, combining advanced technology with great firepower. But how much do you actually know about this impressive machine? Here are 7 surprising facts that make the Mi-28NM even more fascinating!

#7: Developed for Extreme Survival

The Mi-28NM is built to operate in the most demanding environments. It has special protection systems against electronic interference and heavy armor, ensuring it can stay airborne even under heavy fire.

#6: Advanced Radar Hidden in the Rotor

A unique feature of the Mi-28NM is its radar, discreetly mounted on top of the main rotor. This allows the helicopter to observe and engage targets while remaining hidden behind the terrain’s contours.

#5: Unmatched Night Operations

The Mi-28NM is specially designed for night operations, making it extremely dangerous after dark. With advanced thermal cameras and infrared technology, it can quickly detect the enemy, even in complete darkness.

#4: Multifunctional Weapon Systems

The helicopter can be equipped with a wide range of weapons such as missiles, rockets, bombs, and heavy machine guns. What’s special is that the pilot can easily switch between weapons mid-flight, making it incredibly versatile in combat.

#3: Unique Two-Pilot Collaboration

The Mi-28NM requires close collaboration between the pilot and the weapons officer, who share advanced control systems. This ensures the helicopter can quickly respond to dangerous situations and that both pilots are fully informed about the battlefield.

#2: AI-Enhanced Attack Systems

A particularly surprising element of the Mi-28NM is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). The helicopter’s AI can assist with target identification, navigation, and even suggest optimal attack patterns, significantly increasing mission success rates.

#1: Ability to Control Drones in Combat

The biggest innovation of the Mi-28NM is its capability to function as an airborne command center, able to control combat drones directly from the cockpit. This confers a huge tactical advantage, allowing the helicopter to coordinate complex attacks with multiple autonomous drones on the battlefield.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.