Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Alleged Footage of Brand New Russian Gunship Operating in Syria Surfaces Online
Sputnik International ^ | 23.03.2019

Posted on 03/24/2019 5:42:51 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki

Earlier, it was reported that a prototype Mi-28NM was deployed to the Hmeymim Airbase in Syria's Latakia province to conduct field testing in high temperature and desert conditions, and to test out a new mobile radar complex.

A video purportedly showing the Mi-28NM gunship, operating in tandem with a Russian military Mi-24 in Syria's Hama province, has surfaced online.

In the footage, which has yet to be verified or commented on by the Russian Defence Ministry, the new helicopter, distinguishable by its unique ball-shaped radar installed above its main rotor, is seen making repeated passes over a local settlement thought to contain Nusra*-affiliated militants.

A second unverified video shows the pair of helicopters striking a ground target.

Russian media citing military sources reported on the deployment of the Mi-28NM attack helicopter to Syria for field testing last week.

Dubbed the 'Super Night Hunter', the Mi-28NM was created after taking previously accumulated Syrian combat experience into account, and features improved engines, control and anti-air defence systems, fuselage, navigation and communications equipment, and specially created helmets with an augmented reality function to project map, intelligence and helicopter status information into the pilot and copilot's field of vision. The anti-armour helicopter is said to be capable of coordinating with autonomous drones, and can be armed with a new guided missile with a range of over 25 km. The first test batch of the new all-weather, day-night two-seater helicopters is expected to start delivery to the Defence Ministry next month. Developed in the early 1980s, the Mi-28 design has seen multiple upgrades during its service life, and is operated by the Russian, Algerian and Iraqi militaries.

*Aka al-Qaeda in Syria, outlawed in Russia and many other countries.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia; Syria
KEYWORDS: aerospace; erdogan; gunship; kurdistan; mi28nm; receptayyiperdogan; russia; syria; turkey
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

1 posted on 03/24/2019 5:42:51 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

I have one of those


2 posted on 03/24/2019 5:44:25 AM PDT by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

Russia is building lots of war machines and weapons. The more they build the more it will cost to maintain this growing arsenal. They lost the last arms race at a huge cost. Just saying.


3 posted on 03/24/2019 5:47:25 AM PDT by Starboard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

Looks familiar. I know, LONGBOW. it’s 20 year old design.


4 posted on 03/24/2019 5:48:51 AM PDT by DownInFlames (Galsd)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Starboard

is it growing?

Their military spending has been increasing as a percent of their GDP?


5 posted on 03/24/2019 5:49:42 AM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

I’m a bit more concerned with the security of their nuclear and biological weapons.


6 posted on 03/24/2019 5:59:46 AM PDT by EEGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mount Athos

Russian defence spending is miserable comparing to USSR both in real money and as a percentage of GDP.


7 posted on 03/24/2019 6:00:07 AM PDT by NorseViking
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

Question....can any helicopter be brought down with high power rifles!!!


8 posted on 03/24/2019 6:05:36 AM PDT by ontap
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

A-PATCH-ski.


9 posted on 03/24/2019 6:05:42 AM PDT by gaijin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mount Athos

Their arsenal is growing. Defense spending rose steadily from 2006-2016 but the decline in oil prices has (among other things) resulted in lower spending since then. Still, the arsenal built up during the previous decade and modernized equipment need to be maintained and operated. That could be problematic for them in the face of spending constraints.


10 posted on 03/24/2019 6:06:35 AM PDT by Starboard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Starboard

Has their spending been increasing as a percentage of GDP?


11 posted on 03/24/2019 6:13:04 AM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: NorseViking

it looks like it jumped from a typical 3.5% of gdp to over 5 in the past few years. That could put a lot of strain on them if they can’t get it back down.


12 posted on 03/24/2019 6:22:51 AM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Starboard

Ok the most recent data I found so far is that russian military spending dropped 20% in 2017. Outlays translated to 4.3% of GDP, compared to 5.5% in 2016 .

That would mean that Russian military spending in economic terms is shrinking instead of increasing, which is the opposite of what you are saying. I’ll try to find 2018


13 posted on 03/24/2019 6:29:47 AM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Starboard

OK the best estimate I found of russia’s 2018 gdp is 1.57 trillion US dollars. Defense spending 2018 was 63 billion dollars. That makes their defense spending about 4.1% of gdp.

Looking at the trend —
2016 5.5%
2017 4.3%
2018 4.1%

So reality is exactly the opposite of what you say it is.
Russian Defense spending has been decreasing as a percent of GDP, about 30% less than 2016 and about 5% less than prior year


14 posted on 03/24/2019 6:45:23 AM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Mount Athos

So reality is exactly the opposite of what you say it is.

****************

The reality is few know exactly what the real numbers are due to secret/hidden budget items. So you’re only focusing on nominal numbers.


15 posted on 03/24/2019 6:50:33 AM PDT by Starboard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Starboard

Alright.

If you are going to claim that Russian defense spending is increasing lately as a percent of gdp, what you are basing your belief on?

Or did you totally just make it up without any substantiated reason or evidence, but typed it in anyway?


16 posted on 03/24/2019 7:04:46 AM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: NorseViking

“Russian defence spending is miserable comparing to USSR both in real money and as a percentage of GDP.”

The Russians aren’t worried. Germany will trade tanks, missiles and small arms for natural gas.


17 posted on 03/24/2019 7:08:03 AM PDT by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Mount Athos
What I actually said was: "Defense spending rose steadily from 2006-2016 but the decline in oil prices has (among other things) resulted in lower spending since then. I never even mentioned GDP.

I also said their arsenal grew as a result of the big increase leading up to 2016. The point being they have a lot of stuff to maintain.

Its clear that you just want to be argumentative instead of reading my comments and having a constructive discussion.

AMF.

18 posted on 03/24/2019 7:15:48 AM PDT by Starboard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Starboard

I felt like it was a constructive discussion, I wouldn’t have known their defense spending has been falling so dramatically since 2016 if I hadn’t have done the research just now.


19 posted on 03/24/2019 7:21:13 AM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Mount Athos
If you are going to claim that Russian defense spending is increasing lately as a percent of gdp, what you are basing your belief on? Or did you totally just make it up without any substantiated reason or evidence, but typed it in anyway?

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS?locations=RU

20 posted on 03/24/2019 7:24:06 AM PDT by tlozo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson