MOSCOW, June 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Air Force has received its first Mi-28N Night Hunter serially produced military helicopter, a deputy prime minister told President Vladimir Putin Monday.
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said the helicopter was a militarily and technically superior aircraft to the Mi-24 Hind, which is currently in service.
"This is a good result, I congratulate you," Putin said.
In March 2006, a state commission led by Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov approved the production of an experimental batch of helicopters. Mikhailov also said the Defense Ministry planned to buy 50 Mi-28Ns by 2010.
The helicopter is primarily designed to locate and destroy enemy armored vehicles, personnel, small surface ships, and low-speed air targets and fortifications, and to lay mine fields day or night in adverse weather conditions.