Mi-35 receive night vision at Rosvertol(155 words)

Published: 8/8/2000

The Zimbabwean Air Force has had an upgrade package on four of its Mi-35 (Mi-24) undertaken by Rostov on Don based Rosvertol, which originally produced the helicopters. The cost of the upgrade has not been released suggesting that as this was the first upgrade of the type undertaken by the plant, the Zimbabweans may have got a good deal. The plant was reluctant to discuss details of the upgrade with local media, but did say that it included the installation of Russian produced night vision equipment and satellite navigation equipment. It is unclear if this is the full Mi-35M upgrade, which in addition to avionics and armament involves the replacement of the helicopter's main and tail rotors with those developed for the Mi-28. It seems more likely, given that the night vision equipment was Russian, that it is the interim upgrade standard of the Mi-35O, which is reported to have been in action in Chechnya.

Article ID: 1973