04:39 15-04-2026

Mi-28NE Helicopters Spotted Over Tehran After Strikes

Mi-28NE Havoc helicopters spotted over Tehran challenge claims of destroyed Iranian aviation, highlighting their role in Iran’s military and potential combat use.

Russian-made Mi-28NE attack helicopters, known in NATO classification as the Havoc, have resurfaced in the spotlight amid claims that Iran’s aviation has been completely destroyed. According to Military Watch Magazine (MWM), the aircraft were recently spotted flying over Tehran.

The report refers to two helicopters. MWM suggests their appearance may carry a symbolic message — a visible rebuttal to Western assessments of Iranian military losses. The fact that some of the country’s most expensive rotary-wing assets have remained operational after more than a month of sustained US strikes, the publication notes, highlights their particular significance within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. At present, the Mi-28 is described as Iran’s only modern combat helicopter in active service.

The authors also argue that the Havoc could play a meaningful role in potential operations against the United States and its allies. Its capabilities include engaging drones and subsonic cruise missiles, as well as relaying targeting data to ground forces.

MWM had previously pointed out that the Mi-28 has been one of the Russian military’s key tools in countering Ukrainian armored vehicles. On the battlefield, the helicopter has demonstrated effectiveness through a combination of durability and flight performance. The publication emphasizes that crew protection was a central priority in its design.