Mil Mi-24 “Hind” ZAP16.COM Air Show photography, Civilian and Military aircraft fact sheets

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” :

Mi-24D/Hind D: Direct air support.
Mi-24V/Hind E: Direct air support. Most proliferated version.
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.
Mi-24R/Hind G-1: NBC sampling. It has mechanisms to obtain soil and air samples, filter air, and place marker flares.
Mi-24K/Hind G-2: Photo-recon, and artillery spotting. Has a camera in cabin, gun, rocket pods, but no targeting system.
Mi-25: Export version of the Hind D.
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.

Developing Nation:	Soviet Union.
Manufacturer/Designer:	Mil.
Task:	Assault transport and gunship.

First Flight:	September 19, 1969.
First Delivery:	1974 seen in East-Germany.
	Mil Mi-24D “Hind-D”
Crew:	2.
Troops:	8.
Cargo volume:	4,5 m³.

Wing Span:	6,54 m.
Wing Area:	m².
Maine rotor blades:	5.
Maine rotor diameter:	17,30 m.
Maine rotor disc area:	235 m².
Tail rotor blades:	3.
Tail rotor diameter:	3,91 m.
Tail rotor disc area:	11,99 m².
Length overall, rotors turning:	19,79 m.
Length fuselage:	17,51 m.
Height overall:	6,50 m.
Height to top of rotor head:	4,44 m.
Engine (s):	Two Klimov (Isotov) TV-3-117 Series III turboshafts each rated at 1640 kW.
Weight:	– Empty: 8.400 Kg. – Internal fuel: 1.500 Kg.* – External fuel: 1.200 Kg. – Max. ordnance: 2.400 Kg.
Max. Take off weight:	12.500 Kg.
Cruise Speed:	260 km/h.
Max. Speed:	310 km/h.
Service ceiling:	4.500 m.
Hovering ceiling:	– in ground effect 1.500 m. – out of ground effect 2.200 m.
Max. Range:	750 km with internal fuel.
Performance:	Max. endurance hours.
Rate of climb:	750 m per minute.

Sensors:	FLIR, RWR, laser designator.

Underwing hardpoints:	4.
Wingtip hardpoints	2.
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. – 250-kg bombs FAB-250. – 500-kg bombs.

Extra:	Loaded combat troops can fire personal weapons through cabin windows..

* plus provision for 1.000 kg of auxiliary fuel in a cabin tank.

Mi-24 “Hind” operators:
Afghanistan.	– 60 Mi-24.
Algeria.	– 30 Mi-24.
Angola.	– 30 Mi-24.
Armenia.	– 12 Mi-24.
Azerbaijan.	– 10 Mi-24.
Bulgaria.	– 38 Mi-24D. – 6 Mi-24V.
Belarus.	– 80 Mi-24.
Congo.	– ? Mi-24D.
Croatia.	– 15 Mi-24V.
Cuba.	– 12 Mi-24.
Czech Republic.	– 20 Mi-24D. – 20 Mi-24V.
Ethiopia.	– 11 Mi-24.
Germany.	– 38 Mi-24D. – 12 Mi-24V.
Georgia.	– 4 Mi-25D.
Hungary.	– 8 Mi-24D. – 16 Mi-24D Mods. – 8 Mi-24V.
India.	– Mi-25D. – 15 Mi-35.
Indonesia.	– 2 Mi-35P. (3 more in 2005?)
Iraq.	– 40 Mi-24D.
Kazakhstan.	– ? Mi-24.
North-Korea.	– 50 Mi-24.
Kyrgyzstan.	– ? Mi-24.
Laos.	– 8 Mi-25.
Libya.	– 26 Mi-24.
Macedonia.	– 2 Mi-24K. – 10 Mi-24V.
Mongolia.	– ? Mi-24.
Mozambique.	– 15 Mi-24.
Nicaragua.	– 6 Mi-25.
Nigeria.	– 6 Mi-35P.
Pakistan.	– Afghani defectors evaluated.
Peru.	– 27 Mi-25.
Poland.	– 16 Mi-24D. – 16 Mi-24V.
Russia.	– 700 all types.
Rwanda.	– 2 Mi-24V.
Sierra Leone.	– 3 Mi-24V.
Slovakia.	– 8 Mi-24D. – 1 Mi-24DU. – 10 Mi-24V.
Sri Lanka.	– 4 Mi-24?. – 1 Mi-24P. – 10 Mi-24V. – 10 Mi-35P.
Sudan.	– 6 Mi-24V.
Syria.	– 50 Mi-24.
Turkmenistan.	– 10 Mi-24.
Uganda	– 2 Mi-24.
Ukraine.	– 278 Mi-24.
Uzbekistan.	– 45 Mi-24.
United States.	– 1 Mi-24 ex Libya and ex East-Germany and captured Iraq’s for evaluation.
Vietnam.	– 30? Mi-24A.
Yemen.	– 15? Mi-24.
Zimbabwe.	– 4 Mi-35 + 1?