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Air Power |
Mil Mi-24 is a twin-engined assault helicopter intended for close support of ground forces, destruction of armored targets and transportation of persons or cargo. Its design is a classic one with a five-bladed main rotor and three-bladed tail rotor. The Mi-24, the first helicopter to enter service with the Russian Air Force as an assault transport and gunship, was developed on the basis of the Mi-8's propulsion system. Additional missions include direct air support, antitank, armed escort, and air to air combat. The helicopter was used extensively in the Afghanistan War, becoming the "signature" weapon of the conflict. The Mi-24 is a counterpart to the American 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.
A characteristic feature of the Mi-24 is a load cabin connected with the flight-deck, which is 2.83 m long, 1.46 m wide and 1.2 m high. It is capable of accommodating up to armed 8 troops; they can fire from their small arms fixed in mountings on side windows which can be opened. The cabin is accessible by a vertically opening clamshell door on each side of the fuselage. The helicopter has a wing with a span of 6.536 m, which can relieve the tail rotor by up to 30 per cent in higher speeds. It is equipped with a hydraulically retractable tricycle type landing gear with a twin-wheel nose unit. It is powered by TV3-117 engines (2 x 1638 kW).
The development of the helicopter commenced in mid-60ies based on the dynamics, power units and other components of the Mi-8. The first prototype, still with TV2-117 engines, flew in September 1969. Mi-24A (Hind-A) is the first version, in serial production since 1972.
The five-blade main rotor is mounted on top of fuselage midsection, while short, stubby, weapon-carrying wings are mounted at the fuselsage midsection. Two turboshaft engines are mounted above body midsection with two round air intakes located just above the cockpit and exhaust ports on the sides of engines. The Hind A fuselage consists of a large, oval-shaped body with a glassed-in cockpit, tapering at the rear to the tail boom. The swept-back tapered tail fin features a rotor on the right on some models, with tapered flats on a boom just forward of the fin.
The Hind D fuselage features nose modification with tandem bubble canopies, and a chin-mounted turret. Mi24D (Hind-D) is significantly re-designed version of the Mi-24A. It entered service in 1976. A re-modelled two-seated cockpit has a tandem seating with the gunner/pilot sitting in front, the pilot/commander in the rear seat which is raised. The cockpit has characteristic bulging canopies. An undernose turret contains a four-barrel 12.7 mm 9A624 machine gun with up to 1470 rounds. Optional weaponry is mounted on four underwing pylons. It can consist of 4 UB-32 pods (with 32 57 mm S-5 rockets each), 4 x 100 or 250 kg bombs, or 2 x 500 kg bombs, or the same number of napalm dispensers. An air-to-surface launching system for four 122 mm rockets can also be used. On wingtips there are tube-launchers for two pairs of 9M17P anti-tank missiles (Falanga system).
External stores are mounted on underwing external stores points. Each wing has three hardpoints for a total of six stations. A representative mix when targeting armor formations would be eight AT-6 ATGMs, 750x 30-mm rounds, and two 57-mm rocket pods. The aircraft can store an additional ammunition basic load in the cargo compartment in lieu of carrying troops. Armored cockpits and titanium rotor head able to withstand 20-mm cannon hits. Every aircraft has an overpressurization system for operation in a NBC environment.
The HIND’s wings provide 22% to 28% of its lift in forward flight. In a steep banking turn at slower airspeeds, the low wing can lose lift while it is maintained on the upper wing, resulting in an excessive roll. This is countered by increasing forward airspeed to increase lift on the lower wing. Because of this characteristic, and the aircraft’s size and weight, it is not easily maneuverable. Therefore they usually attack in pairs or multiple pairs, and from various directions.
Mi-24DU is a training version of Mi-24D without the undernose gun turret.
Mi-24V (Hind-E) is another improved version, a development of Mi-24D. The major change consists in the upgraded and more efficient SHTURM - V missile system with 9M114 (AT-6 Spiral) radio-guided anti-tank missiles launched from two pairs of cylindrical pods mounted on wingtips. Also added were B-8V rocket pods for 20 80 mm S-8 rockets, UPK-23-250 pods with two-barrel Gsh-23L and 250 rounds, GUV9A universal pods which can carry a 30 mm 9-A-800 automatic grenade launcher, or one 12.7 mm 9-A-624 four-barrel machine gun and two four-barrel 7.62 mm 9-A-622 machine guns. It was equipped with TV3-117V engines with improved height characteristics and optional exhaust mixer boxes to cool exhaust gasses, and auxiliary fuel tanks with a capacity of 450 litres.
Specifications:
Country of Origin: Russia
Builder: MIL
Date of Introduction: 1976 (HIND D)
Role: Assault, gunship, antitank
Similar Aircraft: AH-1 Cobra (all models), UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache, Mangusta A129
Crew: Two (pilots in tandem cockpits)
Blades: Main rotor: 5 - Tail rotor: 3
Rotor diameter: Main Rotor: 17.3 meters - Tail Rotor: 3.9 meters
Dimensions:
Wing span: 6.5 meters
Length Length: 21.6 m (rotors turning)
Length: 17.5 m (fuselage)
Height: 13 ft., 11 in.
Cargo Compartment Dimensions:
Length: 2.5 meters
Width: 1.5 meters
Height: 1.2 meters
Weight Maximum Gross: 11,500 kg
Normal Takeoff: 11,100 kg
Empty: 8,500 kg
Fuel Internal: 1,840 liters
Internal Aux Tank (in cabin): 1,227 liters
External Fuel Tank: 500 liters ea.
Standard Payload Internal load: 8 combat troops or 4 litters
External weapons load: 1,500 kg
External load (no weapons): 2,500 kg
Performance:
Fuel consumption(l): 360 l/h (ground) 350 l/h (air)
Engines: 2 x 2,200 shp Isotov TV-3-117 turbines
Maximum speed: 168 mph / 335 km/h
Cruising speed: 295 km/h
Range Normal Load: 450 km
With Aux Fuel: 950 km
Service Ceiling: 4,500 meters
Vertical Climb Rate: 15 m/s
Max “G” Force: 1.75 g
Armaments:
12.7-mm 4x Barrel Machinegun, YaKB-12.7:
- Range: (practical) 1,500m
- Elevation/Traverse: 20° up to 60° down/ 120°
- Ammo Type: HEFI, APT, Duplex, DuplexT
- Rate of Fire (rpm): up to 4,500 (pilot selectable)
30-mm Twin Barrel Cannon, GSh-30K:
- Range: (practical) 4,000m
- Elevation/Traverse: None (rigidly mounted)
- Ammo Type: HEFI, HEI, APT, APE, CC
- Rate of Fire (rpm): 300, or 2,000 to 2,600
External Pylon loading:
2-12 AT/2C or AT/6C Spiral ATGMs
2-4 80mm S-8 rocket pods (20 ea.)
2-4 57mm S-5 rocket pods (32 ea.)
Two GSh-23L twin 23-mm MG pods w/ 940 rds each
Four 250kg bombs FAB-250
Two 500kg bombs
Two 500 liter External fuel tanks
Most Probable Armament Load:
HIND D: Turret-mounted 4-barrel 12.7-mm Gatling type machinegun, 57-mm rockets, AT-2C/ SWATTER ATGMs.
HIND E: Turret-mounted 4-barrel 12.7-mm Gatling type machinegun or twin barrel 23-mm turret gun, 57-mm rockets, AT-6C/ SPIRAL ATGMs.
HIND F: Fixed 30-mm twin gun on the right fuselage side, 57-mm rockets, AT-6C/ SPIRAL ATGMs.
NOTE:Loaded combat troops can also fire personal weapons through open cabin windows.
Sensors:
FLIR, RWR, laser designator
AVIONICS:
The ATGM targeting system uses a low-level light TV, a laser designator, FLIR, air data sensor, and a missile guidance transmitter.
HIND D versions are primarily daytime aircraft only.
Some HIND E and Mi-35 series export versions have upgraded night and weather capabilities, better avionics, weather radar, autopilot, HUD, GPS, NVG compatibility, more armor, and an increased weapons load provided by the French company Sextant Avionique.
Survivability:
Main and tail rotors electrically deiced.
Infrared signature suppressors can be mounted on engine exhausts.
Radar warning receivers, IFF, Infrared jammer, rotor brake, chaff and flares.
Armored cockpit.
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