PHOTO: Ukrainian Mi-24 Hind gunship with seldom-seen 23mm cannons

Associated Press/Manu Brabo. Click on thumbnail to view high-res image.

An excellent study of a Ukrainian Army Aviation Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunship as it overflies a Ukrainian army column near the town of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Interestingly this Hind carries a rarely-seen flexible twin-barrel 23mm cannon in the nose of the Mi-24VP which was built in very small numbers in the late 1980s and the Mi-35M export version, as opposed to the more common four-barrel 12.7mm machine-gun or the fixed twin 30mm cannon on the starboard side of the nose.

A pair of B-8 rocket pods carrying 20 S-8 80mm unguided rockets and four tubes of the 9K114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) anti-tank missiles complete this helicopter's offensive loadout, while a pair of external fuel tanks are carried to increase endurance. It's not clear if this Hind is an exception, but most of the photos I've seen of Ukrainian Hinds during the current crisis lack the Artem ASO-2V-02 decoy dispensers fitted (although I've seen Ukrainian Mi-8 Hip transport helicopters carry it on their tailboom).

Two Ukrainian Hinds were shot down near the town on the morning of Friday, 2nd of May, when the Ukrainian Army attempted to dislodge pro-Russian Ukrainian rebels and Russian agitators from Slovyansk. Two pilots were killed and another captured as a result of the shootdowns, with the fate of the other crew unknown. A Ukrainian Hip helicopter was also damaged by small arms fire in today's clashes.

It is not known what weapon(s) were used to down the Hinds, but it is suspected to be shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles such as the Russian Igla-series MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defence Systems). There have been no previous sightings of MANPADS in eastern Ukraine, but apparently the "concerned citizens" of eastern Ukraine are concerned enough to somehow acquire weapons to down helicopters with such seeming ease.

Ukraine's defence ministry has issued a news release saying both helicopters were "shot down by unknown persons" using PZRK (Perenosnoj Zenitno-Raketnyj Kompleks or literally translated from Russian, Mobile Anti-Aircraft Missile Complex) An alleged video of one of the Hind shootdowns has been uploaded onto Youtube:

Burmese rebels shoot down army helicopter

Ethnic Kachin rebels have claimed that they have shot down an unidentified Russian-built helicopter belonging to Myanmar's Air Force on the 4th of January. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) said the pilot died in the crash landing in a paddy field near Sinlum Bum village in N’Mawk (Momauk) Township, and that the helicopter was shot down by small arms fire during a resupply mission.

According to the Asian Military Review, the Myanmar Air Force operates the Mil Mi-2, Mi-8 and Mi-24/35 helicopters, all of which have varying transport capabilities.

Satellite photos of Misurata Airport, pre- and post-strike

The American Association for the Advancement of Science has done up a satellite's eye view of the battle of Misrata (Misurata) in western Libya, showing satellite photos of various locations in and around the city in early March and comparing it with another set of photos taken in April. Included in the set of photos are two of Misrata Aiport, with what appears to be Su-22s and Mi-24 Hinds before and after being destroyed by airstrikes. Also present are what appears to be SOKO G-2 Galebs parked a distance behind the Sukhois. Click on the thumbnails for higher resolution images.




(Imagery © 2011 DigitalGlobe, Inc. via AAAS)

Brazilian Mi-35s taking on drug runners

The Brazilian Air Force's (FAB) Mi-35M attack helicopters are proving themselves on anti-narcotic operations intercepting all suspicious aircraft in the Amazon region in coordination with other FAB assets. The FAB has procuring 12 of the aircraft six already delivered from Russia's Rostvertol.

Sudanese Hind crashes in Khartoum, one dead

A reported engine fire soon after takeoff caused the crash of a Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter of the Sudanese Air Force, killing one of three on board. The incident happened at Khartoum Airport.

PHOTO: Libyan rebel Hind attack helicopter in action near Ajdabiya

(Click on thumbnail for larger image)
A military helicopter (Ed: Mil Mi-24/25 Hind) with the rebel flag painted on its side flies very low towards the front line around the Libyan town of Ajdabiya despite a UN-imposed no-fly zone, on April 9, 2011, as rebel forces and fighters loyal to Moamer Kadhafi exchanged fire in and around the town. (AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN via Al-Jazeera)

Ukraine confirms Mi-24s assigned to UN opened fire in Cote d'Ivoire

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry has confirmed that two of its Mi-24P Hind attack helicopters have opened fire on military targets in Cote d'Ivoire's largest city of Abidjan. The helicopters are assigned to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the west African nation.

Peru to receive new Mi-35s

Peru is slated to receive two Mi-35P Hind helicopter gunships from Russia in late March. The helicopters were ordered in summer 2010 and will be used to combat drug trafficking and support operations against the Maoist group Sendero Luminoso. (See link for photos, article in Russian, translation via Google)

h/t Dirk Jan de Ridder

French aircraft destroy Libyan Galebs, Hinds on the ground

The Pro-Gaddafi forces' air arm have suffered further setbacks over Libya with France claiming its attack aircraft have destroyed seven more aircraft on the ground at an airbase near Misrata. The Libyan aircraft were reportedly five Soko G2 Galebs and two Mi-35 Hind attack helicopters.

Free Libyan AF reportedly sinks Gaddafi regime ships

Rebels capture a Libyan AF Hind attack helicopter. (Souce: Unknown)

An opposition Libyan news website has reported that Libyan rebels flying a MiG-23 and a helicopter sank two pro-Gaddafi warships near the town of Adjabiyah. The rebels captured a number of aircraft and helicopters at Benina airfield early in the rebellion, and have been seen repainted in the markings of the rebels.

Azerbaijan acquired 24 Mi-35 gunships in late 2010

It has been reported that Russian company Rostvertol had signed a deal in Sept-Oct 2010 to sell 24 Mi-35M attack helicopters to Azerbaijan. The Mi-35M is a upgraded, multi-purpose version of the Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter.

Russian delivers three Hinds to Indonesia

Russia has delivered three Mi-35M Hind assault helicopters to Indonesia, a military source said on Thursday. The Mi-35M is an export version of the Mi-24 Hind assault helicopter

Burma buys Mi-2 and Mi-24 helicopters for its air force

According to The Irrawaddy, the ruling Burmese junta has purchased 12 Mi-2 Hoplite transport helicopters as well as 50 Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters from Russia. It is expected that the helicopters will be used in combating the numerous insurgencies in the country.

Ukraine sold Mi-24s, MiG-29UBs to Azerbaijan in 2009

In its report to the UN Register of Conventional Arms, Ukraine has said it sold Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters and MiG-29UB Fulcrum trainers to Azerbaijan in 2009. It had also exported self-propelled artillery and armoured personnel carriers.