MIL Mi-24

MIL Mi-25
MIL Mi-35
NATO reporting name: 'Hind'

TYPE:

• Twin-turbine gunship helicopter, with transport capability.

PROGRAMME:

• Development began in the second half of the 1960s, as a fire support helicopter in the former USSR, with accommodation for eight armed troops.
• 12 prototypes were built with the first flight on September 19, 1969.
• A reconfiguration of the front fuselage changed the primary role to gunship.

VARIANTS:

Mi-24A (`Hind-A, B and C'):

• Early versions with pilot and co-pilot/gunner in tandem under large-area continuous glazing, large flight deck, about 250 built, including Mi-24U unarmed dual-control trainers.

Mi-24D (Type 24-6; `Hind-D'):

• Interim gunship version. Design began in 1971 and entered production at Arsenyev and Rostov plants in 1973.
• Basically a late model `Hind-A' with TV3-117 engines and port-side tail rotor, but entire front fuselage redesigned above floor forward of engine air intakes, separate armoured cockpits for weapon operator and pilot in tandem.
• Transport capability retained, uses an undernose JakB-12.7 four-barrel 12.7 mm machine gun in turret, nosewheel leg extended to increase ground clearance of sensor pods, nosewheels semi-exposed when retracted.
• Mi-24DU dual-control training version has no gun turret.

Mi-24V (Types 20-1 and 24-2; `Hind-E'):

• As Mi-24D, but modified wingtip launchers and four underwing pylons.
• Weapons include up to eight 9M114 (AT-6 `Spiral') radio guided tube-launched anti-tank missiles in pairs, R-60 (K-60; AA-8 `Aphid') air-to-air missiles optional on underwing pylons, pilot's HUD replaces former reflector gunsight.

Mi-24VP:

• Variant of Mi-24V with twin-barrel 23 mm gun, with 450 rounds, in place of four-barrel 12.7 mm gun in nose. Photographed in 1992.

Mi-24P (Type 24-3; `Hind-F'):

• Development started in 1974 and about 620 built in 1981-90.
• P of designation refers to pushka = cannon.
• Like a Mi-24V, but nose gun turret replaced by GSh-30-2 twin-barrel 30 mm gun (with 750 rounds) in semi-cylindrical pack on starboard side of nose.

Mi-24R (Type 46-2; `Hind-G1'):

• Identified at Chernobyl after April 1986 accident at the nuclear power station.
• No undernose electro-optical and RF missile guidance pods, instead of wingtip weapon mounts, has `clutching hand' mechanisms on lengthened pylons, to obtain six soil samples per sortie for NBC (nuclear/biological/chemical) warfare analysis, datalink to pass findings to ground, and a bubble window on starboard side of main cabin.
• Designation (also appearing as Mi-24RCh) indicates Razvedchik: reconnaissance/chemical.

Mi-24K (korrektirovchik: corrector) (`Hind-G2'):

• As Mi-24R, but with large camera in cabin and on starboard side, six per helicopter regiment for reconnaissance and artillery fire correction.
• Gun and B-8V-20 rocket pods retained. No target designator pod under nose.

Mi-24BMT:

• A few modified in 1973 for minesweeping.

Mi-24PS:

• Special version for Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Equipment includes undernose FLIR ball, searchlight pod, loudspeaker pack on starboard side, hoist, climbdown ropes, and stations for radio operators.

Mi-24 Ecological Survey Version:

• Modification by Polyot industrial research organization to assess oil pollution on water and seasonal changes of water level.
• First seen in 1991 with large flat sensor `tongue' projecting from nose in place of gun turret, and a large rectangular sensor pod on outer starboard underwing pylon.

Mi-25:

• Export Mi-24D, including those for Afghanistan, Cuba and India.

Mi-35:

• Export Mi-24V. Unarmed, dual control trainer version also produced for India.

Mi-35P:

• Export Mi-24P.

Mi-35M:

• Upgraded night-capable version of Mi-24/35 designed to meet the latest air mobility requirements of the Russian Army.
• Features include:
• 1,636 kW (2,194 shp) Klimov TV3-117VMA engines
• New avionics, a reduced empty weight resulting from new titanium main rotor head
• Composites rotor blades, shortened stub-wings and non-retractable landing gear
• A 23 mm GSh-23-2 twin-barrel gun in nose turret, with 470 rounds
• Up to 16 radio-guided 9M114 (AT-6 `Spiral') or laser-guided 9M-120 anti-tank
• 9M-120F blast fragmentation or 9A-220 air-to-air versions of Ataka (AT-12) missile
• Or a range of armament options including GUV gun/grenade pods, UPK-23-250 gun pods, B-8V-20 and B-13L rocket pods, S-24B rockets, and KMGU pods of anti-armour and anti-personnel mines.
• Night Operation Capable Avionics System (NOCAS) integrates FLIR ball with a TMM-1410 display, providing night vision for target acquisition and identification, missile guidance and gun aiming.
• Other equipment includes a VH-100 HUD, liquid-crystal MFD, laser-gyro INS and GPS.
• Ability to carry Igla V air-to-air missiles is optional.

The Following Descriptions Apply to the Mi-24D

DESIGN FEATURES:

• Typical helicopter gunship configuration, with stepped tandem seating for two crew and heavy weapon load on stub-wings.
• Fuselage unusually wide for role, due to requirement for carrying eight troops.
• Wings contribute approximately 25 per cent of lift in cruising flight.
• For extra protection from ground weapons, titanium was introduced into the main rotor blades and the rotor head, providing the ability to withstand 20 mm cannon shells.
• Windscreens of bulletproof material were provided for each cockpit and the quantity and quality of the structural armour was increased.
• Advanced electronics were also introduced, including undernose sensor packs (one for each optronic weapon) and the warning systems include RWR and 'Odd Rods' IFF.

POWER PLANT:

• Two Klimov TV3-117MT turboshafts, each with a T-O rating of 1,434 kW (1,923 shp), side by side above cabin including a 5 mm hardened steel armour protection for engines.
• Main fuel tank in fuselage to rear of cabin, with bag tanks behind main gearbox.
• Internal fuel capacity is 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) and can be supplemented by 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) auxiliary tank in cabin (Mi-24D).
• Provision for carrying (instead of auxiliary tank) up to four external tanks, each 500 litres (132 US gallons; 110 Imp gallons), on two inner pylons under each wing.

ACCOMMODATION:

• Pilot (at rear) and weapon operator on armoured seats in tandem cockpits under individual canopies, dual flying controls, with retractable pedals in front cockpit, if required, flight mechanic on jump-seat in cabin, with narrow passage between flight deck and cabin.
• Rear seat raised to give pilot unobstructed forward view, and an anti-fragment shield between cockpits.
• Main cabin can accommodate eight person on folding seats, or four stretchers.
• Optically flat bulletproof glass windscreen, with wiper, for each crew member.

ARMAMENT:

• One remotely controlled YakB-12.7 four-barrel Gatling type 12.7 mm machine gun, with 1,470 rounds
• Four 9M17P Skorpion (AT-2 `Swatter') anti-tank missiles on twin rails under endplate pylons at wingtips
• Four underwing pylons for:
• UB-32 rocket pods (each 32 S-5 type 57 mm rockets)
• B-8V-20 pods each containing twenty 80 mm S-8 rockets
• B-13L pods each containing five 130 mm S-13 rockets
• 240 mm S-24B rockets
• UPK-23-250 pods each containing a GSh-23L twin-barrel 23 mm gun
• GUV pods each containing either one four-barrel 12.7 mm YakB-12.7 machine gun with 750 rounds or two four-barrel 7.62 mm 9-A-622 machine guns with a total of 1,100 rounds
• AGS-17 Plamia 30 mm grenade launcher with 300 grenades
• Or up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) of conventional bombs, mine dispensers, night flares or other stores.
• R-60 (AA-8 `Aphid'), R-73 (AA-11 `Archer') and Igla air-to-air missiles fitted experimentally.
• Helicopter can be landed to install/reload weapons carried in cabin.

Sources

• Mi-24 Hind Photographs
• Mi-24, M.L.Mil 'Hind'
• Aviation.Ru
• Russian Military Helicopter pictures

Links

• Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery - Mil
• Mi24 Hind Pictures
• Emil Pozar: Croatian Air Force