The Mi-24 helicopter was originally developed as a attack and transport helicopter for the Russian Air Force. Besides it's useful for direct air support, air-air fights, anti-tank and armored escort. It has been developed by the Russian company MIL in 1976.
The Mi-24 can be equipped with:
- a 12.7 mm 4 turret machine gun type YaKB-12.7 which can fire 4500 rounds a minute
- a 30 mm double turret canon of the type GSh-30K which can fire 300, 2000 or 2600 rounds a minute
- 750 - 1 x 2 30-mm gun or a 1470 - 12.7-mm 4 turret gun
- 2 till 4 80mm S-8 rocket pods for 20 missiles
- 2 till 4 57mm S-5 rocket pods for 32 missiles
- GSh-23L double 23mm MG pods
- 4 250kg bombs of the type FAB-250
- 2 500kg bombs
Mi-24 combat helicopter is/was also in service with the air forces of Germany, Sri Lanka, Poland etc. Also were used in several civil wars like Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), Sri Lankan Civil War (1987–2009), Persian Gulf War (1991), Afghanistan War (2001–present) etc.
Eg:- Since 14 November 1995, the Mi-24 has been used by the Sri Lanka Air Force in the war against the LTTE and has proved highly effective providing close air support for ground forces. The Sri Lanka Air Force currently operates a mix of Mi-24/-35P and Mi-24V/-35 versions attached to its
No. 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron. They have recently been upgraded with modern Israeli FLIR and electronic warfare systems.
