ROSTOV-ON-DON, June 27 (RIA Novosti) - The designers of the new Russia MI-28 N combat helicopter and Air Force experts have started putting the aircraft through its paces.

"Test flights began today," Russian Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov told a Monday news conference in Rostov-on-Don, southeastern Russia.

Mikhailov said he was sure the new aircraft, dubbed the Night Hunter, would be given "the green light."

Mikhailov said that it would probably be flying in the Air Force next year.

"The fourth and the fifth helicopters are being built now as production aircraft. They will replace MI-24 helicopters," Mikhailov added.

The MI-28-N is the only helicopter today that can fly at the lowest possible altitudes in poor visibility and even at night. The aircraft can perform aerial stunts, and strong armor protects it from large caliber guns.

Mikhailov said a command and staff exercise currently being conducted in the North Caucasus was designed to test the Air Force's combat readiness. The exercise, which involves Air Force and Air-Defense units, began on Monday.

According to the commander, identifying the location of assumed militants is one of the objectives of the exercise.

"They will be on our firing range hypothetically, and pilots will have to hit the targets provided by positional data and destroy the gang," Mikhailov said.