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World Defense & Security Industry News - UkrOboronProm
 
 
UkrOboronProm successfully test-fires new 80 mm air-to-ground rocket
 
The Ukrainian defense contractor Artem, part of UkrOboronProm SJSHC, developed and manufactured a new 80 air-to-ground munition for Ukrainian Air Force. "This new 80 mm rockets are designed to destroy ground targets and are developed for attack helicopters and aircraft using regular starter units," said UkrOboronProm on Feb. 11, 2017.
     
A Ukraine Air Force's Mi-8MSB helicopter firing ARTEM's new 80 mm rocket
(Credit: UkrOboronProm)
     
MI-8MSB – modernized by UOP enterprises-participants - and equipped with new engines, sighting and navigation equipment and optical-electronic suppression station Adros was used during the tests. Adros protects the aircraft from being targeted with Stinger, Igla or other portable air defense systems.

Mi-8MSB crew ripple-fired and individually fired new missiles. All missiles came out of starter units and hit predetermined targets. It should be noted that ripple-fire, complete unit discharge – containing 20 missiles – takes about half a second.

Aicraft inventory of the Ukrainian Air Force includes around 50 Mi-8MT, of which seven have been reportedly modernized.