Mil Mi-24D

The Mil Mi‑24D is a Soviet‑designed attack‑transport helicopter that entered service in 1975, representing the most advanced variant of the Mi‑24 “Hind” family produced by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. Developed from the earlier Mi‑24A and Mi‑24B models, the D version incorporated a more powerful TV‑3‑117V engine, a reinforced airframe, and upgraded avionics that allowed day‑and‑night operations. Its distinctive tandem cockpit places a pilot up front and a weapons officer behind, while the spacious cabin can carry up to eight fully equipped troops or a cargo load of 1,000 kg, giving the aircraft a unique blend of firepower and mobility.

Armament is centered on a 23 mm twin‑barrel cannon integrated into the nose, supplemented by hardpoints for anti‑tank missiles, rockets, and air‑to‑air missiles. Advanced navigation and targeting systems, such as the Kaira‑2 infrared sight and the NV‑3 radar, enhance its strike accuracy. The Mi‑24D saw extensive combat in Afghanistan, Angola, and the Middle East, proving its durability in harsh environments.

Its significance lies in pioneering the concept of a gun‑armed attack helicopter capable of also transporting infantry, influencing later designs worldwide and cementing the Hind as an iconic symbol of Cold‑War era rotary‑wing power.