Russia’s Defense Ministry has released footage showing a Mi-28NM attack helicopter launching a low-cost cruise missile during military operations in Ukraine. The video was published on the ministry’s official Telegram channel.

The footage shows the munition separating from a launcher mounted beneath the helicopter’s left wing.

According to the Defense Ministry, the Mi-28NM crew used a Dan-T loitering munition to strike Ukrainian troop positions and a drone command post.

Analysts at the American defense publication The War Zone (TWZ) identified the weapon as the Dan-T, a modified version of the S8000 Banderol cruise missile developed by Russia’s Kronstadt company.

The original Banderol has a reported range of approximately 500 kilometers and carries a warhead weighing up to 50 kilograms.

The upgraded Dan-T features a substantially heavier 135-kilogram warhead, significantly increasing its payload compared with the original missile.

Despite the larger warhead, the new variant is reportedly 35% cheaper to produce, combining greater destructive capability with lower costs.

The Dan-T is expected to become the primary version for future procurement. Its potential launch platforms are not limited to attack helicopters, as the missile can also be deployed from combat aircraft and ground-based launchers.

Equipping the Mi-28NM with long-range cruise missiles represents a significant expansion of the helicopter’s strike capabilities.

The new weapon allows the aircraft to engage targets from considerably greater distances, reducing the need to approach areas where enemy defenses may pose a threat.

Previously, the Mi-28NM’s longest-range weapon was the LMUR guided missile, which could engage targets at distances of up to 15 kilometers.