The Mil Mi-24 is a large combat helicopter, a gunship, and low-capacity troop transport operated from 1976 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations.

Its NATO reporting name is Hind, variants are identified with an additional letter, the export versions - the Mi-25 and Mi-35, are denoted as Hind D and Hind E respectively. Soviet pilots called the aircraft the 'crocodile'.

The core of the aircraft was taken from the Mil Mi-8, two top mounted turboshaft engines driving a mid-mounted 17.3 m five-blade main rotor and a three blade tail rotor. The engine positions give the aircraft its distinctive double air intake above the equally characteristic tandem cockpit. Other components of the airframe came from the Mi-14. Weapon hardpoints are provided by two short mid-mounted wings (which also provide lift), each offering three stations. The load-out mix is mission dependant, the Hind can be tasked with close air support, anti-tank operations, aerial combat. The body is heavily armoured and the titanium rotor blades can resist impacts from 12.7 mm rounds. The cockpit is overpressurized to protect the crew in NBC conditions. The craft uses a retractable tricycle undercarriage.

The comparatively high size and weight of the Hind limit its endurance and maneuverability. In tight banking turns it can roll alarmingly as the wings lose lift - this was noted during test-flights in 1969 but has still not been entirely eliminated. To counter this vulnerability the Russians operate the aircraft in pairs or larger groups, with attacks carefully coordinated to strike from multiple directions simultaneously. Another weakness was the possibility of the main rotor striking the tail-boom during violent maneuvers. Its high loaded weight can also limit its effectiveness as a helicopter, some reports state that with a full load the Hind needs a rolling take-off and also cannot hover. The problems with the dual-role Hind have prompted the development of the Mil Mi-28 and also the Kamov Ka-50 to replace it in the gunship role.

The aircraft was operated extensively during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The US supplied 'Stinger' missiles to the Mujaheddin and the Hind was a favourite target - around 300 were lost during combat operations in Afghanistan, an unknown number to missile hits.

Initially modelled on the Bell AH-1 Cobra and borrowing extensively from existing models the Hind went from drawing board in 1968 to first test-flights in less than eighteen months. First models were delivered to the armed forces for evaluation in 1970. The Mi-24A did have a number of problems - lateral roll, weapon sighting problems, and limited field of view for the pilot. A heavy redesign of the aircraft front section to create the Mi-24B solved some of these problems. The most common variant is the Mi-24D, a purer gunship than the earlier variants, the first to include the electronics for ATGMs, most of the earlier models were upgraded to the D type.

The newest variant is the 1995 Mi-24VM, with light-weight fibre main and tail rotors to improve all-round performance, updated avionics to improve night-time operation, new communications gear, shorter and lighter wings, and updated weapon systems to include support for the Ataka, Shturm and Igla-V missiles and a 23 mm main gun. Other internal changes have been made to increase the aircraft life-cycle and ease maintenance. The Mi24VM is expected to operate until 2015.

Since 1978 around 2,000 Hinds have been manufactured, 600 for export.


Specifications (Hind D)
Length: 17.5 m (fuselage)
Height: 6.5 m (gear down)
Wing span: 6.5 m
Rotor diameter: 17.3 m
Weight: 8,500 kg (empty), 12,000 kg (max. take-off)
Power: 2 of Isotov TV-3 turbines, 2,200 shp each
Speed: (uncertain) 335 km/hr (max.), 260 km/hr (cruise)
Ceiling: 4,500 m, 1,500 m (hover)
Crew: 2
Cargo: Eight troops or four stretchers
Armament (typical): 1,500 kg weapons load. 12.7 mm Yakushev-Borzov machinegun, 2 of 57 mm rocket pods, eight ATGMs
Range: 450 km

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