Uganda aims at stepping up its Air Force capability by acquiring a Mi-28N Havoc attack helicopter from Russia. Photographs of three Mi-28N attack helicopters spotting Ugandan markings have recently surfaced suggesting that the country is acquiring the aircraft.
Though the details on the acquisition Mi-28N remains sketchy, the three Mi-28s were seen at Entebbe Air Base on 15 June during a visit by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni while a military insider hinted that an additional three airframes are said to be en route to the country from Russia.
Early January this year, Uganda commissioned a new helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Nakasongala Air Base in preparation for the arrival of the Mi-28 Night Hunter.
Uganda Airforce currently flies about five Mil Mi-24 Hind gunships, a variant of the more capable Mi-28N helicopter. Uganda over the recent years has stepped up its defense spending to try to keep up with its neighbor Kenya which in terms of defense capability is way much ahead.
For example, between 2012 and 2021, Uganda’s military expenditure rose by 203 percent, and its military expenditure reached Sh123.1 billion ($1.066 billion) last year, an 8.3 percent increase from Sh113.7 billion ($984.7 million) in 2020.
The Mi-28N Havoc combat helicopter was developed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and its Unit cost is around $18 million. It made its first maiden flight in 1982.
A Brief Look at Mi-28N Attack Helicopter
- The aircraft can be armed with a mixture of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles,
- Can as well be armed with unguided rockets, and podded guns.
- Armed with Shturm and Ataka anti-tank missiles supplied by the Kolumna Design Bureau (KBM). (Shturm is a short-range, radio command-guided missile).
- Up to 16 anti-tank missiles can be mounted on the helicopter.
- Mi-28 has a fully armored cabin, including the windshield.
- The aircraft is also equipped with a turreted 2A42 30mm cannon, stabilized in two axes, with a muzzle velocity of 1,000m/s.
- Mi-28 can fly at a maximum speed of 300km/h, can fly rearwards and sideways at speeds up to 100km/h and is able to hover turn at 45° a second.
The Mi-28 attack helicopter is in use by Algeria, Russia, and Iraq.
