10.08 Russian Air Force to Get 60 Mi-28UB Helicopters by 2020

ROSTOV-ON-DON, August 10 (RIA Novosti) � The Russian Defense Ministry will procure up to 60 Mi-28UB helicopters to improve the training of pilots for Mi-28N gunships, the Air Force commander said.

The Mi-28UB is a combat training variant of the Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopter that can be operated both from the pilot's cockpit and the flight instructor's cockpit as it is equipped with a dual hydromechanical flight control system.

�We will purchase four to six [Mi-28UB] helicopters for each unit that has Mi-28N in service,� Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Friday after attending a Mi-28UB demonstration flight at Rostvertol plant, which manufactures both Mi-28N and Mi-28UB helicopters.

�We are planning to procure up to 60 [Mi-28UB] helicopters until 2020,� Bondarev said, adding that the new version would significantly speed up and improve pilot training.