Mil- Mi-24 Hind

Quick Summary

• Gunship, can be used as small transport, Tank buster. Look that strikes fear into enemy hearts when coming at you.
• One four barrel JakB 12.7mm Gatling gun in chin turret(Hind F had switched too the 30mm double barreled cannon next to the cockpit) four S-8 80mm rocket pods or up to 7,612 lbs of rockets or missiles.
• Max speed up to 192 mph, Range: 465 mi on internal fuel only. Ceiling: 14,760 ft.
• Two 1,500-ship Klimov (Isotov) TV3-117 Series III turboshafts.

MIL Mi-24. NATO Reporting Name Hind. Gunship helicopter, with transport capability. Like America's Huey the Mi-24 evolved into a multi-role aircraft, with attack, gunship, helicopter escort, and assault troop carrying missions. Eight troops can be carried, or four litter patients. The Hind story differs from that of the Huey, however, in that the attack and gunship role was built in, not added on; and it seems to fit better. Titanium is used extensively in the aircraft for strength and weight reduction. The armored panels that surround the cockpits, are large, smooth sheets devoid of any visible fasteners. Critical flight components are all armored, particularly the engines and drive train. The pilot and gunner's position are separate, armored stations with redundant flight controls and weapon systems to allow either crew member to perform essential duties in an emergency. Both have armored glass windscreens for protection against small arms fire. Accomodations are fairly spacious, for a gunship. The pilot, in the aft station, is well above the gunner and looks over his head. The gunner has several sighting systems to contend with. Although currently a bit out of date in the anti-armor role, particularly when compared to the Mi-28 Havoc, Ka-50 Hokum and the US Apache, the Mi-24 is still an important element in the battle plans of commanders who own them. The helicopter normally carries four AT-6 anti-armor missiles, two on each outboard winglet station, along with four rocket canisters and the 30mm cannon. The Hind-E model is a dedicated anti-armor weapon designed specifically for tank busting; this version carries up to 12 AT-6s, and is equipped with a radar guidance system. The terrain in Afghanistan has had considerable influence on the use of the Hind. Many of the narrow roads in Afghanistan snake through valleys overlooked by steep, tall mountains. Such terrain provides perfect ambush situations. As a result, whenever a Soviet troop column or supply convoy moves into guerrilla territory, it is accompanied by Hinds whose pilots have developed a standard escort tactic. Some Hinds hover over the ground convoy, watching for guerrilla activity, while others land troops on high ground ahead of the advancing column. These troops secure any potential ambush positions and provide flank security until the column has passed; they are themselves protected against guerrilla attack by the Hinds that inserted them and subsequently hover overhead. Once the convoy passes their position, the troops are picked up and reinserted farther along the route. Convoy protection is also provided by other Hinds that range ahead of the column to detect and strike guerrillas that may have concentrated along the route.12 Other information on Hind tactics indicate that a closer relationship between air and ground arms has been a major aim of the Soviet force development (the helicopter is a part of the Soviet Air Force). Hinds are the primary Soviet close air support weapon in Afghanistan. They not only strike enemy forces in contact with Soviet troops but sometimes carry out attacks as much as twenty to thirty kilometers forward of the forward edge of battle area. This tactic is apparently an attempt to increase responsiveness, tactical flexibility, and integration with ground forces.13 The Soviets have had some problems with their helicopters. In 1980, losses to SA-7 surface-to-air missiles (a hand-held, heat-seeking missile) led to a change in tactics at the end of 1980 or early 1981. Since then, the Hinds have used nap-of-the-earth flight patterns, for which the machines were not designed nor their crews properly trained. There have been reports of Hind rotors striking the rear of their own helicopters during some of these nap-of-the-earth flights. The wear on airframes and systems caused by these lower-altitude flights has also greatly increased rates of operational attrition. Its dimensions are Span: 21ft. Main rotor diameter: 57ft. Length: 65ft. Height: 21ft. Main rotor disc area: 2,529 sq. ft.