Russia's Mi-28 fires a cruise missile: Attack helicopters are getting longer punch

The Russian attack helicopter, the Mi-28NM Havoc, has fired a cruise missile, marking a significant increase in its combat range. This development comes from Russia's Defence Ministry, which released footage showing the helicopter launching the missile from a pylon under its left stub wing. The missile returned to the helicopter, which then fired another one from the right wing.

The ministry has not disclosed the weapon's name, the date, location, or target of the launch, nor have they identified the exact type of missile, which could be either the S8000 Banderol or the Dan-T. This is the first official confirmation that Russia is developing long-range capabilities for its attack helicopters.

The Ukrainian military intelligence agency, GUR, had previously described the Banderol missile in spring 2025. The missile is estimated to be around 5 meters long, equipped with pop-out wings, a small turbojet engine, and capable of traveling at approximately 500 km/h. It boasts a range of up to 500 km and carries a warhead weighing about 50 kg.

Unlike the Mi-28, which is vulnerable to air defenses due to its low-flying nature, the Banderol's extended range allows it to be launched from a safe distance, potentially from Russian airspace across the border.

Russia is not the only country exploring this concept. The US Marine Corps is working on equipping its AH-1Z Viper helicopters with the Red Wolf launched-effects family, a modular system capable of providing long-range strike capabilities. The Red Wolf has already been tested from an AH-1Z, with a reported range extending hundreds of miles.

It can also be configured for communications relay and electronic warfare. Similarly, India is developing its own helicopter-launched weapons. In April, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Navy conducted a maiden salvo launch of the Naval Anti-ship Missile-Short Range (NASM-SR) off the Odisha coast. The missile demonstrated a waterline hit capability, indicating its potential to target moving vessels. This reflects India's aim to provide firepower from ship-based helicopters at short range.