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Russian “Night Hunters” Arrive in Tehran: Why Iran Selected the Mi-28 Havoc (and Who It Will Use Them Against)

6 days babelfish

After years of rumors, denials, and backroom deals, it seems the moment has arrived: the skies over Tehran have hosted the unmistakable flight of a Mi-28NE "Havoc ." The Russian attack helicopter, an armored beast designed to destroy armored vehicles and infantry, has been immortalized in videos and photos that are making the rounds among military analysts.

This isn't just a fleet upgrade. The arrival of these vehicles marks a turning point in the Islamic Republic's operational capabilities, but more importantly, it tells us a lot about the regime's survival priorities and the stability of the Moscow-Tehran axis, seemingly impervious to Iran's recent internal turmoil.

Proof of Arrival: From Cargo Flights to Pasdaran Hangars

The images circulating over the past week leave little room for interpretation. A video shows an Mi-28 flying over the capital, while static photos, likely geolocated at the Pars Aerospace Services Company (PASC) hangars at Mehrabad International Airport, show the aircraft undergoing assembly or maintenance. PASC is no ordinary company: it is closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and, of course, sanctioned by the West.

Air traffic supports the delivery hypothesis. In January, radar tracks detected at least five flights of heavy Il-76 cargo planes from Russia to Iran. These "mules" of the air are ideal for transporting dismantled helicopters or essential spare parts. This confirms that the logistics corridor between the two sanctioned countries is operating at full capacity, unaffected by external pressure.

The technical update: goodbye to old Cobras

For decades, the backbone of Iran's attack helicopter force has been the AH-1J Cobra , a legacy of the Shah and the American war industry of the 1970s. While Iran has worked miracles in keeping them airborne and upgrading them (locally known as Toufan ), they are technologically obsolete, with tired airframes and increasingly complex logistics to maintain.

The Mi-28NE represents a quantum leap in capabilities, as summarized in the following comparison:

Characteristic AH-1J Cobra (Iranian/Toufan) Mi-28NE Havoc (Russian)
Armoring Light, vulnerable to ground fire Heavy, armored cabin in titanium and bulletproof glass
Operation Mainly diurnal All-weather, excellent nighttime ability (“Night Hunter”)
Armament 20mm cannon, TOW/Local missiles 30mm cannon, Ataka/Vikhr missiles, S-8/S-13 rockets
Defensive Systems Basics (flare/chaff added) Advanced (DIRCM against thermal missiles, sand filters)

The images suggest that Iran has received upgraded variants, equipped with a rotor-mounted radar (useful for detecting targets while remaining hidden behind hills) and larger air filters, essential for operating in dusty desert environments.

What are they really for? Not against the US.

Here we come to the sore point, or rather, the “scenario” analysis: why did Iran buy these helicopters now?

Anyone who thinks that a few dozen Mi-28s can change the balance of power in a conventional conflict against the United States or Israel is sadly mistaken. In a modern, high-intensity war theater dominated by air supremacy, an attack helicopter without fighter cover is an easy target. Just hours ago, an American F-35 shot down an Iranian drone that had come too close to the USS Abraham Lincoln; the same fate would befall a Havoc attempting to engage Western naval or air forces.

The real utility of the Mi-28NE for Tehran is asymmetric and internal: counterinsurgency .

Iran has emerged from a fiery January 2026, with uprisings and protests that shook the regime. The Mi-28 is, brutally speaking, a perfect tool for territorial control.

  • Its armor makes it almost immune to small arms and heavy machine guns that might be in the hands of rebel or insurgent groups.
  • Its night-time sensors allow it to monitor and strike with precision in the dark, a favorite time for insurrectional movements.
  • The 30mm cannon and unguided rockets offer devastating firepower against infantry and light vehicles (the classic “technicals” or armed pick-ups).

In short, the purchase responds more to the need to maintain control over the population and restive peripheral provinces (such as Baluchistan or Iranian Kurdistan) than to the need to challenge NATO in the open field.

The Axis of Necessity

This supply ultimately demonstrates that the internal turmoil of the beginning of the year has not paralyzed Iran's state capacity to conduct strategic affairs. Moscow, isolated by the conflict in Ukraine, needs Iranian drones and missiles; Tehran needs to modernize its forces to ensure the regime's survival. It's a trade-off for survival.

While Washington is discussing possible new raids or reopening diplomatic channels with Turkey, the reality on the ground is changing: the Pasdaran now have a powerful new hammer. And as the saying goes, when you have a new hammer, every problem (or disagreement) starts to look a hell of a lot like a nail.

The article Russian “Night Hunters” arrive in Tehran: why Iran chose the Mi-28 Havoc (and against whom it will use them) comes from Scenari Economici .

This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/i-cacciatori-notturni-russi-arrivano-a-teheran-perche-liran-ha-scelto-i-mi-28-havoc-e-contro-chi-li-usera/ on Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:00:22 +0000.