Russia has reportedly begun a new upgrade of the Mi-28NM attack helicopter, incorporating electronic warfare equipment aimed at countering drones, a threat that has come to play a central role in the war in Ukraine.
According to information shared by the website Defence Blog, the modification was identified after recent images released by the Russian Ministry of Defense showed the aircraft in combat operations.
According to Israeli analyst Guy Plopsky, the images reveal the installation of new antenna structures in different parts of the fuselage, including the sides of the aircraft’s nose, the wing mounts and the rear section.
In the expert’s assessment, the components may be part of an electronic countermeasures (ECM) system designed to interfere with signals used by drones, although their exact function has not yet been confirmed.
The distribution of the new sensors or antennas across multiple points of the aircraft suggests 360-degree coverage, allowing it to detect or block threats coming from different directions. This type of capability is considered increasingly important in a scenario in which small drones can attack helicopters from varied angles and at different altitudes.
Known to NATO as “Havoc“, the Mi-28NM is the most advanced version in service of the Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter. The model already features a latest-generation radar, improved night-vision systems and the ability to employ long-range guided missiles.
The aircraft has been widely used by Russia in Ukraine both in close air support missions and in strikes carried out from beyond the range of enemy air defenses.
The possible upgrade reflects the growing importance of drones in the conflict. In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles have come to threaten not only troops and armored vehicles, but also helicopters and other aircraft, forcing both sides to develop new forms of protection and electronic warfare.
Several stills from a new Russian MoD video on Mi-28NM operations against Ukraine. Note what appear to be new antenna housings on the sides of the nose, atop the stub-wing pods and on the tail boom. Presumably elements of an ECM system (likely jamming equipment for C-UAS use). pic.twitter.com/BOLh5Exfjf
— Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 18, 2026
Photos: Russian Ministry of Defense / Telegram @zvezdanews. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
