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The Mil Mi-24
"Hind" is a close counterpart to the American
McDonnell Douglas/Boeing AH-64 Apache, but
unlike this and other Western assault
helicopters it is also capable of transporting
up to eight troops. The Russians have deployed
significant numbers of Hinds in Europe and have
exported the Hind to many third world
countries.
The Mi-24
features large wings that not only provide
attachments for a variety of weaponry but also
provide much of the lift in forward flight. The
first operational variant, the Hind-A, was a
transitional design featuring a spacious cockpit
for two pilots, a gunner, and an observer. The
emphasis, however, remained on troop transport
with an aft cabin providing room for up to eight
troops or four litters. While this initial
experience in the assault transport role proved
successful, new views on the application of
helicopters on the battlefield prompted
development of a much improved gunship version.
This Mi-24D Hind-D variant, while still
retaining the troop-carrying ability, was
heavily redesigned for gunship and anti-armor
missions. These helicopters are easily
distinguishable from earlier models by the
completely revamped forward fuselage that
abandoned the large single cockpit in favor of
separate stepped tandem cockpits for the pilot
(upper) and gunner (lower). In addition, the
cockpit and rotor system were heavily armored
for survival against ground fire, and new
sensors were added for use in conjunction with
AT-2 anti-tank missiles. An even more advanced
variant, the Mi-24W Hind-E, is armed with the
far superior AT-6, and the final Mi-24P Hind-F
model features a large 30-mm cannon. Though it
is believed that neither the Hind-E or Hind-F
retains a troop-transport capability, it is
possible that a support crew and missile reloads
are carried for rapid rearming in the field. In
total, over 2,500 Mi-24s and variants were built
by the late 1990s.
The
Mi-24R/Hind G-1 was seen in the press and TV
reports during the aftermath of the Chernobyl
disaster, equipped with 'clutching hand' devices
at the bottom of the wing's vertical endplates.
The aircraft role was correctly assumed to be
'connected with radiation sampling.
Mil Mi-24
"Hind" variants others than "Hind A/B/C" :
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Mi-24D/Hind
D: Direct air support.
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Mi-24V/Hind
E: Direct air support. Most proliferated
version.
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Mi-24P/Hind
F: Direct air support. The fixed twin gun
cut the turret profile, and empty weight to
8,200 kg, while boosting maximum gross
weight to 12,000 kg.
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Mi-24R/Hind
G-1: NBC sampling. It has mechanisms to
obtain soil and air samples, filter air, and
place marker flares.
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Mi-24K/Hind
G-2: Photo-recon, and artillery spotting.
Has a camera in cabin, gun, rocket pods, but
no targeting system.
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Mi-25: Export
version of the Hind D.
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Mi-35: Export
version of the Hind E. The Mi-35M has a twin
barrel 23-mm gun.
Mi-35P: Export version of the Hind F.
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Developing Nation: |
Soviet Union. |
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Manufacturer/Designer: |
Mil. |
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Task: |
Assault transport and gunship. |
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First Flight: |
September 19,
1969. |
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First Delivery: |
1974 seen in East-Germany. |
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Mil Mi-24D "Hind-D" |
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Crew: |
2. |
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Troops: |
8. |
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Cargo volume: |
4,5 m³. |
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Wing Span: |
6,54 m. |
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Wing Area: |
m². |
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Maine rotor blades: |
5. |
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Maine rotor diameter: |
17,30 m. |
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Maine rotor disc area: |
235 m². |
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Tail rotor blades: |
3. |
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Tail rotor diameter: |
3,91 m. |
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Tail rotor disc area: |
11,99 m². |
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Length overall, rotors
turning: |
19,79 m. |
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Length fuselage: |
17,51 m. |
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Height overall: |
6,50 m. |
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Height to top of rotor head: |
4,44 m. |
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Engine (s): |
Two Klimov (Isotov)
TV-3-117 Series III turboshafts each rated at
1640 kW. |
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Weight: |
- Empty: 8.400 Kg.
- Internal
fuel: 1.500 Kg.*
- External
fuel: 1.200 Kg.
- Max.
ordnance: 2.400 Kg. |
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Max. Take off weight: |
12.500 Kg. |
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Cruise Speed: |
260 km/h. |
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Max. Speed: |
310 km/h. |
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Service ceiling: |
4.500 m. |
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Hovering ceiling: |
- in ground
effect 1.500 m.
- out of ground
effect 2.200 m. |
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Max. Range: |
750 km with internal fuel. |
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Performance: |
Max. endurance hours. |
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Rate of climb: |
750 m per minute. |
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Sensors: |
FLIR, RWR, laser designator. |
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Underwing hardpoints: |
4. |
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Wingtip hardpoints |
2. |
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Weapons: |
- YaKB-12.7 four
barrel 12,7 mm machinegun, with 4.500
rounds/min.
- GSh-30K twin
barrel 30-mm cannon with 2.000 rounds/min.
- AT-2C Swatter
ATGMs.
- AT-6C Spiral
ATGMs.
- 57-mm S-5
rocket pods.
- 80-mm S-8
rocket pods.
- GSh-23L twin
23-mm MG pods.
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250-kg
bombs FAB-250.
- 500-kg bombs. |
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Extra: |
Loaded combat
troops can fire personal weapons through cabin
windows.. |
*
plus provision for
1.000 kg of auxiliary fuel in a cabin tank.
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Mi-24 "Hind"
operators: |
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Afghanistan. |
- 60 Mi-24. |
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Algeria. |
- 30 Mi-24. |
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Angola. |
- 30 Mi-24. |
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Armenia. |
- 12 Mi-24. |
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Azerbaijan. |
- 10 Mi-24. |
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Bulgaria. |
- 38
Mi-24D.
- 6 Mi-24V. |
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Belarus. |
- 80 Mi-24. |
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Congo. |
- ? Mi-24D. |
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Croatia. |
- 15 Mi-24V. |
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Cuba. |
- 12 Mi-24. |
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Czech Republic. |
- 20
Mi-24D.
- 20 Mi-24V. |
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Ethiopia. |
- 11 Mi-24. |
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Germany. |
- 38
Mi-24D.
- 12 Mi-24V. |
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Georgia. |
- 4 Mi-25D. |
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Hungary. |
- 8 Mi-24D.
- 16 Mi-24D
Mods.
- 8 Mi-24V. |
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India. |
- Mi-25D.
- 15 Mi-35. |
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Indonesia. |
- 2 Mi-35P. (3
more in 2005?) |
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Iraq. |
- 40 Mi-24D. |
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Kazakhstan. |
- ? Mi-24. |
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North-Korea. |
- 50 Mi-24. |
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Kyrgyzstan. |
- ? Mi-24. |
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Laos. |
- 8 Mi-25. |
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Libya. |
- 26 Mi-24. |
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Macedonia. |
- 2 Mi-24K.
- 10 Mi-24V. |
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Mongolia. |
- ? Mi-24. |
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Mozambique. |
- 15 Mi-24. |
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Nicaragua. |
- 6 Mi-25. |
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Nigeria. |
- 6 Mi-35P. |
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Pakistan. |
- Afghani
defectors evaluated. |
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Peru. |
- 27 Mi-25. |
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Poland. |
- 16
Mi-24D.
- 16 Mi-24V. |
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Russia. |
- 700 all types. |
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Rwanda. |
- 2 Mi-24V. |
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Sierra Leone. |
- 3 Mi-24V. |
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Slovakia. |
- 8 Mi-24D.
- 1
Mi-24DU.
- 10 Mi-24V. |
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Sri Lanka. |
- 4 Mi-24?.
- 1 Mi-24P.
- 10
Mi-24V.
- 10 Mi-35P. |
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Sudan. |
- 6 Mi-24V. |
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Syria. |
- 50 Mi-24. |
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Turkmenistan. |
- 10 Mi-24. |
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Uganda |
- 2 Mi-24. |
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Ukraine. |
- 278 Mi-24. |
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Uzbekistan. |
- 45 Mi-24. |
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United States. |
- 1 Mi-24 ex
Libya and ex East-Germany and captured Iraq's
for evaluation. |
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Vietnam. |
- 30? Mi-24A. |
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Yemen. |
- 15? Mi-24. |
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Zimbabwe. |
- 4 Mi-35 + 1? |
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