Mil Mi-35M Night attack/assault helicopter
Development/History
This distinctive Soviet assault helicopter was developed by Mil OKB in response to American experiences in Vietnam. Sometimes called a 'flying tank' because it was the first attack helicopter to feature heavy armour and be armed with a large calibre cannon. In Soviet/Russian service it is nicknamed the 'hunchback'.
The first prototype made its maiden flight in 1970, but this version boasted a full glass, or 'green house', cockpit, rather than the more-familiar tandem layout of latter models. In 1974 the first production versions were spotted operating with Soviet troops in East Germany, and they were soon in widespread service throughout Eastern Europe.

The invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 gave the Mi-24 its first combat experience, and Soviet pilots soon came to value its heavy armoured protection. Only the arrival of US-made Stinger missiles in the hands of Mujhadeen rebels threatened Soviet air supremacy, so a crash programme to fit defensive systems to the Mi-24 was begun.

With the fall of the Soviet Union, the Mi-24 has seen extensive service in the wars in the Caucasus - Russian Army Aviation used them to spearhead their invasion of Chechnya in 1994. Budget cuts mean Russian plans to replace the Mi24 have yet to come to fruition, so it will have to soldier on for many years to come. To boost the Mi-24's appeal to export customers, western sensors and avionics have been integrated into the latest new-build versions.

Powerplant
Two Klimov TV3-117 series II turboshafts
Power: 4380 shp (3266 kW)

Dimensions length: 57 ft 5.5 in (17.51 m)
Rotor diameter: 56 ft 9 in (17.3 m)
Height: 13 ft (3.97 m)

Weights
Empty: 18 078 lb (8200 kg)
Max T/O: 26 455 lb (12 000 kg)
Warload: 5290 lb (2400 kg)

Performance
Max speed: 208 mph (335 km/h)
Range: 540 nm (620 km) with auxiliary tanks

Armament
12.7 mm Gatling type gun or twin 23 mm cannon in nose; 9M17 Falanga (AT-2 Swatter) wire-guided anti-tank missile; 9M114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) radio- and laser-guided anti-tank missile; 9M120 Vikhr (AT-16) laser anti-tank guided missiles; 9M39 Igla-V (SA-18 Grouse) and 9A2200 air-to-air missiles; free-flight rocket pods; 23 mm or 12.7 mm gun pods; twin 30 mm GSh30-2 cannon, 30 mm grenade launcher; bombs; chemical weapons; mine dispensers

Variants
V-24/A.10 'Hind-B': Pre-production versions, with TV-2-1117 engines, rated to 1700 shp.
Mi-24A/B 'Hind-A': Original production version with 'green house' front cabin, starboard tail rotor, TV-3-117 engines and Falanga missiles.
Mi-24U 'Hind-C': Unarmed training version of 'Hind-X
Mi-24D 'Hind-D': First version to have tandem cockpit, 12.7 mm cannon and Falanga missiles. Mi-24DU: Dual-control trainer with turret deleted.
Mi-25: Export version of Mi-24D.
Mi-24V 'Hind-E': Introduced radio command-guided Shturm missiles. Powered by TV-3-117A engines. Known as Mi-24W in Polish service. Export version Mi-35.
Mi-24P 'Hind-F': Version of Mi-24D armed with hull-mounted twin 30 mm cannon. Mi-35P export version.
Mi-24VP: Mi-24V with twin 23 mm cannon in nose turret. Mi-35VP export version .
Mi-24R, RR, Rkh (Rch) or RKR 'Hind G': Chemical and nuclear survey/sampling version.
Mi-24K 'Hind G-2': Artillery fire correction version.
Mi-24VM: Night attack version with western sensor and new titanium rotor head.
Mi-35M: Export night attack version with western sensor, avionics and new Mi-28-style titanium rotor head. Mi-35U.:Unarmed export trainer.
Mi-24PS: Police/para-military version.
Mi-24E: Environmental research version.

Status
In production.

Operators
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria (air force), Cambodia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Executive Outcomes (South Africa), Ethiopia, Finland, Hungary, India (air force), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Libya (air force), Mongolia, Mozambique, Peru (air force), Poland (army), Russia (army), Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria (air force), Tadjikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine (army), Vietnam, Yemen, Georgia, USA (army).

Manufacturer
Rostvertol (Russia) and Progress Arseneyev Aviation Co (Russia) to Mil OKB (Russia) design