Mi-24 / Mi-35
Modernization
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Description |
The primary aims of modernisation include:
- service life extension;
- improvement of spesification and performance;
- improvement of combat effectiveness and survivability;
- day and night operation;
- improvement of crew operation conditions.Here are three main stages of the programme:
- Stage 1. ”Improvement of flight characteristics” provides for a new dynamics system introduction and retrofits of the airframe and its major elements;
- Stage 2. ”Day and night combat employment” consists in equipping the cockpit with night goggles and adjusting the cockpit illumination equipment, as well as in installation of the new digital avionics with electric indication, and weapons suites based on day and night capable sight and surveillance systems;
- Stage 3. ”Improvement of weapons” includes introduction of a more formidable day and night capable weapons suite based on the multi-channel sight and surveillance systems and integrated equipment and weapons, with provisions for NATO standarts, if required for Customer.
All the said versions can be provided in any combination to be successfully installed in the course of overhaul with technical certification handed out and simultaneous life extension of main helicopter systems and elements.
Developed at the Mill plant, the Mi-24 helicopter (designed Mi-35 in exports version) is one of the most well-known in its class. It is in service with over thirty countries, and can boast a wealth of war experience in about fifty military conflicts, thus being reputed to be one of the most ”combat-active” choppers of the world.
Mi-24 was assembled at the Progress plant in Arsenyev and at the Rostov Helicopter Plant, with the total of over three thousand helicopters built. Currently, the Mil plant in a joint effort with specialists of the Rosvertol public Joint-stock company is running a Mi-24/25 deep modernisation programme. The world helicopter market has a variety of versions for modernisation of the chopper, differing one from another with the types of sight and surveillance systems and avionics.
Peculiar features of modernised Mi-24/25:
- the VK-2500 engines with 2,400 hp of max TO power;
- improved effectiveness of the main rotor, featuring blades of composite materials and a shaft with elastomeric bearings;
- new swash plate
- redused-noise X-shaped tail rotor;
- smaller wing without tip pylons, featuring up-to-day store racks and an in-built cargo lifting system;
- non-retractable landing gear;
- more capacious fuel tanks;
- night goggles and adjusted cockpit illumination equipment;
- precision navigation system with Glonas/Navstar system sensors for flight and electronic indication, based on multirole cockpit indicators and digital computers;
- weapons suite for day and night smployment based on the OPS-24N gyrostabilised sight and surveillance system with thermal-imaging and TV-channels, a laser range-finder and a missile finder;
- the NPPU-24 gun mount with the GSh-23 gun replacing the YaK-12.7 MG;
- the Ataka supersonic guided missiles replacing the Shturm ones;
- the Igla-type air-to-air guided missiles;
- interference-safe communicatious means;
- new airborne defence system.
The programme of Mi-24 (Mi-35) modernisation provides the customer with an opportunity to choose, basing on the criteria ”available funds - expected effectiveness”. The programme looks forward to step-by-step introduction of new design and technological features in any combination, depending on clients’ wish, the condition of helicopters, and residual service life of the rotary-wing aircraft.
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