Tag Archives: mil

International, Technology

World War 3 Vehicle I-D: Hind Users

Video

Probably the most prolific combat helicopter ever made, incomplete list of current users:

Afghan Mi-24 Hind-D.

Algerian Super Hind (modified in South Africa).

Angolan Hind.

Armenian Hinds.

Belarussian Mi-24.

NATO-Belgium operated Mi-24P helicopters during NATO wargame Saber Junction, in Vilseck, Germany, 10OCT2012. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Evangelia Grigiss.

Brazilian AH-2 Saber (Mi-35M).

NATO-Bulgaria Mi-24 Hind-D. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Robert Douglas, 11JUN2019.

Cuban Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias Mi-24 Hind-D, not known when photo was made.

NATO-Czech Republic (Czechia) Mi-24V.

Egyptian Mi-35M.

NATO ‘partner’ Georgia’s Hind-D, 30APR2022. Photo via Georgian Ministry of Defense.

Ministry of Defense of Georgia video showing new facility where Hinds, and other aircraft, can be re-built, released October 2020:

NATO Hungary Mi-24 Hind-D, 03JUN2021. U.S. Army photo by Major Robert Fellingham.

See more NATO-Hungarian Hinds in NATO WEAPONS: APACHES & HINDS, FOR THE FIRST TIME?

India’s Mi-35 Hind.

U.S. Army video showing Indonesian Mi-35P, September 2014:

Iraq’s new Mi-35M Hind.

Brand new Mi-35M for Kazakhstan, still wearing Russian flag on tail.

A recent, but not clear, photo of a Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) Hind. They still use the Red Star of the old Soviet Union.

Libyan ‘Haftar’ Mi-35.

Macedonian Mi-25(24) Hind-D. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant John M. Foster, 04SEP2003.

Mozambican Mi-25(24).

Myanmarese Mi-35P.

Nigerian Mi-35.

Peru’s Hind-D, March 2018.

NATO-Poland Mi-24 Hind-D, 13OCT2022. Hawaii Army National Guard photo by Specialist Kevin T. Brown Junior.

Serbian Defense Ministry video, arrival of new Mi-35Ms dubbed Vučić’s Flying Tanks, 16AUG2019:

Syrian Hind-Ds.

Turkmenistan’s Mi-24P.

NATO-United States, Mi-24 Hind-D, Yuma Marine Corps Air Station-Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, 09OCT2015. U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Staff Sergeant Artur Shvartsberg.

A NATO-United States Mi-24 Hind-D on Lancaster Airport, Texas, 29JUN2022. It is painted in the Cold War era style of Warsaw Pact Bulgaria. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Courtney Sebastianelli.

Uzbek Army ‘live-fire’ video posted July 2022, Uzbekistan tries out its new Mi-35M:

https://youtu.be/PK_6PaQ0sYA

Venezuelan Mi-35 goes down.

Vehicle I-D:

MIL 24 HIND ‘SATAN’S CHARIOTS’, COLD WAR AND BEYOND (1970s to Ukraine Crisis-October 2022)

ZOMBIE ‘COPTER: HOW THE HIND RETURNED TO AFGHANISTAN (with the help of NATO), AND WHY IT WON’T DIE.

Technology

Cold War Battle Damage: The Hind-End of Desert Storm

Image

Mil 24, NATO reporting name Hind.

Hind is Middle English for rear end (hind end, hind leg), originating with Old English/Old German. Hind is also the name for female Red Deer who are three years of age or older. Hind is also the name for a type of speckled serranid fish in the Western Atlantic Ocean. Hind is also a word for a peasant/lower class worker.

The crews/countries who operate the Mil 24 have given it their own nicknames, such as Flying Tank, Drinking Glass and Satan’s Chariot.

Operation Desert Shield/Storm can be considered the last battle of the undeclared/unofficial Cold War.

United States Department of Defense photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

March 1991, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner.

U.S. DoD photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

March 1991, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner.

March 1991, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner.

March 1991, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner.

General Norman Schwarzkopf uses his foot to check-out the pieces & parts of an abandoned Hind. U.S. DoD photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

The captured Hinds were brought to Rafha Domestic Airport in Saudi Arabia. The airport is near the border with Iraq. Photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

A different Iraqi Hind, photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, March 1991.

Retractable nose gear pointing to heaven, all that is left of an Iraqi Hind, March 1991, photo by Sergeant Kimberly Yearyearn.

Desert Storm:

DoD photo.

IRAQ AIRCRAFT GRAVEYARD

Afghanistan 2020: MAINTAINING SATAN’S CHARIOT

Vehicle I-D 2020:

IRAQI HUEY

Cold War Vehicle I-D: TU-95 ‘BEAR’

 B-47 STRATOJET

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Marina Armada de México Mil 17

Video

Mil 17=NATO reporting name ‘Hip’.

Marina=Marine, as in ocean/sea/water.

Armada=Fleet of ocean going military vehicles, or navy.

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class John Stratton, 31JAN2010.

Mexican Mil 17-V5 delivers aid to Haiti, 31JAN2010.

USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Eric T. Crosby, 20JUL2012.

Mexican Navy Mi-17 Hip lands behind a U.S. Marine CH-53E Sea Stallion on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2).

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Paul Seeber, 13JUL2012.

Mil 17-1V flying off ARM Usumacinta A412 (ex-U.S. Navy USS Frederick LST1184 tank landing ship) during Rim of the Pacific war games (RimPac), 13JUL2012.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Paul Seeber, 14JUL2012.

Maintenance on an Mi-17-1V, July 2012.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Paul Seeber, 11JUL2012.

U.S. Navy video by Petty Officer First Class Paul Seeber, fast roping from a Mexican Hip, during RimPac, 15JUL2012:

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Captain Naomi Dorren, 16AUG2014.

Infanteria de Marina (Infantry of the Ocean) board a Mil 17-1V during exercise Partnership of the Americas, in Chile, August 2014.

USMC photo by Private First Class Devan Gowans, 06SEP2015.

Mil 17-1V lands on ARM Usumacinta A412 during Exercise Dawn Blitz, 06SEP2015.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Frank Cordoba.

During 2016’s RimPac wargames, Mexican navy Mi-17-V5 were used in training operations on Hawaii and California.  This is a medevac operation on San Clemente Island, California, 28JUL2016.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Jason Estevez.

Mexican Marina Mil 17-V5 arrives on U.S. Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, 23OCT2017, for exercise Bold Alligator.

USMC photo by Corporal Jason Estevez, 23OCT2017.

U.S. Marine Corps video by Chief Warrant Officer Izzel Sanchez, 23OCT2017:

USMC photo by Corporal Jason Estevez, 23OCT2017.

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Cody J. Ohira.

Mi-17-V5 parked near a CH-53E Super Stallion, MCAS New River, North Carolina, 23OCT2017.

Vehicle I-D: UH-60 FOR AFGHANISTAN, KILLED-OFF BY THE MIL 17?

International, Technology

Vehicle I-D: Afghan 8/17 Mils

Video

NATO reporting name Hip.

The primary identifying feature between Mil 8 and 17 versions is; the Mil 8 has the tail rotor on the pilot’s right side, the Mil 17 has the tail rotor on the pilot’s left side.  All other details are subject to change.

Video by Bob Ditchey, Hip door gunner live-fire, 13MAY2018:

2014 video, Mil 17B(V)-5 helicopters inflight over Afghanistan:

2014 video, by Senior Airman Brandi Hansen, of NATO member Czech Republic advisers on a training flight, with live-fire door gunning, in an Afghan Mil 17B(V)-5 helicopter.  Czech Republic has a long history of using Mil helicopters and was sent to help train Afghans:

2013 NATO video report; Uruzgan based 4th Brigade of the Afghan National Army conducted resupply and casualty evacuations:

Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar province, 04AUG2012. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Austin Berner.

Photo by Technical Sergeant Dennis Henry.

In 2012, NATO member Czech Republic deployed air-crews to Afghanistan.  They got acquainted with the terrain by taking rides in Afghan Mil 17B(V)-5.

Photo by Technical Sergeant Dennis Henry.

Photo by Technical Sergeant Dennis Henry.

Photo by Technical Sergeant Dennis Henry

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Jonathan David Chandler. Sun rises on a Mil-8 helicopter on Camp Bastion, Helmand province, 23OCT2011.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Smith.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Smith.

Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bostick, 09OCT2011.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Smith.

FOB Fenty, Jalalabad, 09OCT2011.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Smith.

Mil 17B(V)-5 over FOB Fenty, 08OCT2011.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Smith.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Smith.

May 2011: Mil 17B(V)-5 crash & burn.

Photo by Petty Officer Third Class Jared Walker.

Video, February 2011, rocket training:

Video by Sergeant Bryan Spradlin, October 2010, showing U.S. and Afghan forces refueling and rearming a Hip:

During Afghan national elections Hip helicopters are used to deliver empty ballot boxes, and then retrieve full ballot boxes after voting.  These pics are from September 2010.

Maybe it’s time the United States use its military to control ballots during national level elections?

Photo by Petty Officer Second Class Ernesto Hernandez Fonte.

August 2010, U.S. advisers fire the rockets of a Mil 17.  U.S. advisers were prepping to train-up Afghan aircrews in using the Hip as a gunship.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Teddy Wade.
Contracted Mil Mi-8 helicopter lands at FOB Airborne, 25NOV2009.

Hip door gunners, 03OCT2009. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Angelita Lawrence.

By November 2008, Afghanistan had received three new U.S. taxpayer funded Mi-17 Hips. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Keith Brown, 25NOV2008.

Vehicle I-D: UH-60 FOR AFGHANISTAN, KILLED-OFF BY THE MIL 17?

Afghan Mi-24 Hind-D.

MAINTAINING SATAN’S CHARIOT

See how the CH-47 loves to collect ‘Hip’ bones

International, Technology

Government Shenanigans: UH-60 for Afghanistan, killed-off by the Mil 17, U.S. taxpayers raped twice?

Video

31 October 2020 / 03:21 (UTC-07 Tango 06)/ 10
Aban 1399/14 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1442/15 Bing-Xu(9th month) 4718

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Martin, 05NOV2017.

Begun under the Barack Obama administration, the UH-60A program for Afghanistan is now drastically scaled back under the Donald Trump administration, due to lack of the Black Hawk’s performance in Afghanistan, a shift in priorities within the U.S. Department of Defense, and the high cost to U.S. taxpayers.

A former U.S. Army Black Hawk is loaded onto a C-17 transport, bound for Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Adriane Elliot, 15SEP2017.

September 2017, the first batch of UH-60As for Afghanistan are unloaded from a C-17 Globemaster-3, at Kandahar Air Field.

 

Photo by Staff Sergeant Trevor McBride.

Video by Senior Airmen Ryan Green, UH-60A flight training, November 2017:

By December 2017, a small group of six Afghan Mil 17 pilots became qualified to fly the UH-60A+.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Jared Duhon.

By February 2018, the Afghan Air Force had eight UH-60 Blackhawks.

By March 2018, U.S. military officials were boasting the UH-60 program was “mission ready”.  Video of more flight training by John Roberts:

USA photo by Major Richard Barker, 06MAY2018.

By May 2018, the first large class of Afghan UH-60A crews had completed the Mission Qualification Course (MQC).   Video by Jackie Faye showing Afghan UH-60s taking off on their first official mission one day after the MQC graduation:

In June 2018,  The U.S. Special Inspector General For Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) criticized the UH-60 program for Afghanistan saying “They are unable to accommodate some of the larger cargo items the Mi-17s can carry, and in general, it takes almost two Black Hawks to carry the load of a single Mi-17. Furthermore, unlike Mi-17s, Black Hawks cannot fly at high elevations and, as such, cannot operate in remote regions of Afghanistan where Mi-17s operate.”

A Train, Advise and Assist Command-Air (TAAC-Air) explainer video by Staff  Sergeant Rion Ehrman, with overly dramatic music, July 2018:

Photo by Sergeant Luke Hoogendam.

July 2018 MedEvac (medical evacuation) training, now known as CasEvac (casualty evacuation).

Photo by Staff Sergeant Clayton Cupit.

By December 2018, U.S. TAAC-Air contractors continued to train Afghan personnel on the UH-60A.

In February 2019, SIGAR warned that the $7-billion U.S. taxpayer funded program to replace Afghanistan’s Russian built helicopters with U.S. made helicopters (first proposed in 2014, mainly using the UH-60A+) was flawed because “DOD does not currently have a maintenance training course in place to train Afghan personnel to maintain UH-60s. Having insufficient Afghan maintenance personnel limits the locations at which UH-60s can operate because DOD policy bars U.S. contractors from working where there is no U.S. or Coalition control due to security concerns.”

Another former USA UH-60 Black Hawk bound for Afghanistan, this time on 25APR2019, transported by Ukrainian An-124 transport. USA photo by Richard Bumgardner.

In January 2020, the Military Times reported “The U.S. military is reducing the number of UH-60 Black Hawks it plans to provide Afghan forces from 159 to just 53…..”, ostensibly because the U.S. Department of Defense no longer considers Afghanistan a priority.

September 2020, the Financial Express explains the reasons why ‘Afghan Military to stick to Russian-made Helocraft’, saying the Obama era program to rely mainly on UH-60s to replace proven Russian technology was “primarily driven by political concern”.

Don’t worry all you happy U.S. taxpayers, you paid for those Russian made ‘Hip’ helicopters as well, to the tune of $15-million each!

Zombie ‘Copter:   HOW THE HIND RETURNED TO AFGHANISTAN (with the help of U.S./NATO), AND WHY IT WON’T DIE

Afghanistan:   MIL 17 CRASH & BURN

 MAINTAINING SATAN’S CHARIOT

  MD-530 Cayuse Warrior

Technology

Helicopters: Egypt مصر

Video

Mil 24V (Mi-35), January 2020.  Apparently purchased from Ukraine.

Egyptian Ministry of Defense promotional video in which you can see AH-64 Apaches, Kamov 52 Nile Crocodile, Hips, Gazelles, Super Sea Sprites, CH-47 Chinooks and Mi-35 Hinds:

Ka-52 Nile Crocodile.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Justin Warren.

Egyptian and Jordanian soldiers secure an urban training area after repelling out of an Egyptian Commando (Sea King), U.S. led Exercise Bright Star, September 2018.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Dawn M. Weber.

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant James Lefty Larimer.

A ‘hip’ Egyptian helicopter (Mil 17V-5) conducting med-evac (medical evacuation) training during Bright Star 2018.

USA photo by Sergeant James Lefty Larimer.

U.S. Department of Defense photo by Tom Gagnier.

Mi-17 V5 from Bright Star 2017.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Michael Battles.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Jonathan Clay.

Egyptian navy Kaman Super Sea Sprite lands on USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) during exercise Eagle Salute, July 2018.

USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Jonathan Clay/Released)

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Michael Battles.

Egyptian Civil Police Gazelles get training in anti-tank operations, U.S. led Exercise Bright Star, September 2017.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Michael Battles.

Video, Egyptian Gazelles, 2017:

Photo via U.S. Navy.

This is a VH-3A Sea King ‘presidential helicopter’ after rebuild in the United States in 2009.  This helicopter was originally given to Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat in 1974, by the U.S. taxpayers (presented by U.S. President Richard Nixon).

Egyptian SH-3 Sea King during Bright Star 82, November 1981.

Silent U.S. Army video, by Sergeant First Class Jacobs, showing Sea King during the first Bright Star 81 (for fiscal year 1981) wargame, November 1980:

Quick video, Hip and Gazelles from Bright Star 2009:

Egyptian Mi-8 Hip during multi-national wargame Bright Star, October 2001. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Cherie A. Thurlby.

Wargame Bright Star 82, a USAF C-5A Galaxy about to touch-down in Egypt, an Mi-8 is parked in the foreground, November 1981.

Silent U.S. Army video, by Sergeant First Class Jacobs, showing Mi-8 Hips during the first Bright Star 81 (for fiscal year 1981) wargame, November 1980:

May 2020: 126 rebels killed in Sinai

April 2020: 10 Egyptian soldiers killed

February 2020: Egypt’s military is now the 9th strongest in the world

September 2019: Israeli news media accuses Egyptian military of profit-making off Sinai rebellion

Vehicle I-D: IRAQI HUEY

MIL 17 CRASH & BURN

MAINTAINING SATAN’S CHARIOT

Technology

Mil 17 crash & burn

Image

In early May 2011, one of the U.S. taxpayer funded Russian built Afghan Mil 17B(V)-5 crashed in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan.  Nine people onboard were slightly injured.

The Hip was part of the first deliveries of U.S. taxpayer funded Russian made helicopters between 2009 and 2010.  NATO/ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) reported the Mil-17s sent to Afghanistan cost about $15-million each!  Dozens more were given to Afghanistan in the years after this crash, in fact the United States signed a new delivery contract with Russia about a week after this crash.

U.S. Army Pathfinders were ordered to remove ‘sensitive’ equipment from the  NATO reporting-name Hip, and then dismantle and burn it to the ground.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Brian Christiansen, 12MAY2011.

Parts of the Mi-17, that could be reused, were sling loaded away by CH-47 Chinook.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Brian Christiansen, 12MAY2011.

The fire was started using phosphorus grenades.  When aluminum gets hot enough it burns like paper, almost nothing is left but ash.

This was not the first time a U.S. taxpayer funded ‘Hip’ was blown-up by U.S. forces.

U.S. Army photo by Corporal Patrick Gleason, 23DEC2010.

On 23DEC2010, a contracted Mi-17 was blown-up by U.S. forces on Combat Out-Post (COP) Spera in Khowst Province.  The Hip actually crashed on COP Spera several years earlier.

The result of packing an Mi-17 with excess ammo, and then blowing it up. USA photo by Corporal Patrick Gleason, 23DEC2010.

The Hip was packed with ‘left-over’ munitions, which were detonated.  The destruction of the derelict Hip was an excuse to get rid of excess ammo, as COP Spera was being shut-down.

CH-47 CHINOOK LOVES COLLECTING MIL 8 ‘HIP’ BONES

MAINTAINING SATAN’S CHARIOT (Afghan Mi-24V)

AFGHANISTAN GETS MORE U.S. TAXPAYER FUNDED HELICOPTERS & GUNS!

TAXPAYER FUNDED AIRCRAFT ABANDONED THEN TURNED INTO SCRAP METAL! 

U.S. TAXPAYERS TO RESCUE “DONATED” C-130

U.S. TAXPAYERS DELIVER MD-530F CAYUSE WARRIOR TO KENYA

U.S. TAXPAYERS SEND AUSSIE PRIME MINISTER A MODEL BOAT!

U.S. TAXPAYERS FUND POLICE TRAINING & CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN VIETNAM!

Technology

Maintaining Satan’s Chariot

Video

U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Cecilio Ricardo, 09APR2007.

What does it take to keep what the Afghan’s call Satan’s Chariot in the air?

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Angelita Lawrence, 02OCT2009.

Video from September 2009, live fire prep, 12.7mm chin-gun and 57mm rockets:

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Angelita Lawrence, 02OCT2009.

Video from September 2009, the awesome sight and sounds of live fire training:

Loading the 12.7mm four barreled gatling chin-gun, May 2010.

Don’t forget the 57mm rockets.

These pics were taken at Kabul International Airport during a 100 hours inspection of a Mil 35 (Mi-24V, NATO Hind-E), in October 2011.

Video from June 2015, maintaining the Hind Legs of the Hind-E (and the front leg as well):

Before we go, live fire training 12.7mm chin-gun and 23mm under-wing gun-pods, from 2014:

Zombie ‘Copter:

Afghan Mi-24 Hind-D.

HOW THE HIND RETURNED TO AFGHANISTAN (with the help of the U.S./NATO), AND WHY IT WON’T DIE

Vehicle I-D:

NATO photo, 15MAR2018.

MIL 24 HIND ‘SATAN’S CHARIOTS’, in use by almost everybody including NATO

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAINTAIN A FLYING MILITARY FIRETRUCK?

Technology

Zombie ‘Copter: How the Hind returned to Afghanistan, and why it won’t die

Video

The first time the Afghan military used the NATO-reporting-name Hind was during the Soviet occupation (1979-1989).  It was during that occupation that Mujaheddin on the receiving end of the Mi-24D nicknamed it Satan’s Chariot.  After the Soviets left, Afghanistan managed to operate a few Mi-24s (NATO reporting-name Hind-D), some sources say right up until the 2001 U.S. invasion.

Apparently the Mil 35 is the export version of the Mil 24V (NATO reporting-name Hind-E), and apparently there’s wasn’t much difference between the Soviet version and the export version.   However, don’t confuse a Mi-35 with the newer Mi-35M (prototype Mi-24VM).  Along with many internal upgrades the basic visual differences between Mi-24/25 (another ‘export’ designation)/35 and a true Mi-35M are the landing gear, wings and chin-gun.  The Mi-35M has fixed landing gear (apparently in an effort to reduce weight and keep production costs down), shorter span wings and a twin barreled 23mm chin-gun.

Kabul International Airport/Air Base. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Cecilio Ricardo, 02APR2007.

In December 2008, Czech Republic started deliveries of at least six refurbished Mi-24Vs (NATO Mi-35 Hind-E), along with several Mi-17s, to help build Afghanistan’s air power.

The push to build Afghan government controlled air power was seen as a way of reducing reliance on U.S./NATO forces, a way of avoiding getting stuck in a ‘Tar Baby’ the way the Soviets did in the 1980s.

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Edward Gyokeres, 27MAY2009.

Live fire at East River Range Complex near Bagram Air Base, May 2009.

June 2009 video of Czech technicians training Afghans for live fire exercise:

According to the exalted Wikipedia, it states the Czech Hinds were “purchased” by Afghanistan and training was done by technicians from India. Wrong!  Here’s an official NATO report from July 2009:

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Thomas Dow, 09SEP2009.

2009, U.S. Air Force video report explaining what the plan is for the Afghan Hinds:

USAF photo by Airman Brian Ybarbo, 15DEC2009.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Manuel J. Martinez, 11MAY2010.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Oshawn Jefferson, 15MAY2010.

Quick live fire video from June 2010:

USAF photo, 26JAN2011.

Photo by Vladimir Potapenko, 05MAR2011.

USA photo by Staff Sergeant Elvis Umanzor, 18SEP2013.

In 2014, it was revealed that the United States supplied Afghanistan with 30 Russian built new model Mi-17B-5 helicopters. But the affair with Russia ended over the shenanigans in Ukraine and Crimea.  U.S. officials instead pushed for U.S. made helicopters to be given to Afghanistan.

In a 2015 New York Times article an Afghan colonel criticized the U.S. for forcing Afghanistan to accept MD 530F scout helicopters (at U.S. taxpayer expense).  The colonel pointed out the MD 530Fs were easily shot down saying “This plane is a total mess”, and expressed a desire to get more Hinds.

In 2019, the arrogant U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) stated the Czech gifted “…Mi-35s were removed from the authorized fleet in 2015, but the Afghans continue to attempt to sustain them. DoD has advised them against doing so….”, and seemed perplexed at Afghan military leaders wanting a more reliable and survivable gunship like the Mi-24.

Sensing an opportunity to make points with the Afghan government, India gifted four refurbished Hinds (originally purchased from Belarus) between 2015 and the end of 2019.  The Indian Hinds were denoted as Mi-25s and Mi-24Vs by the Indian news media and even Jane’s Defence Weekly, U.S. news sources refer to the Indian gifted Hinds as Mi-35s.

Moral of the story is; if you want to make Afghans happy just give them more Satan’s Chariots!

Update, 11AUG2021, Taliban capture Mil 24V (Mil 35):

VEHICLE I-D: ZOMBIE TANK T-55, THEY’RE EVERYWHERE!

Technology

CH-47 Chinook collects Mil 8 ‘Hip’ bones

Video

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

Surrounded, finders keepers! NATO reporting name for the Soviet era Mil 8 is Hip.

USA photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

USA photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

USA photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

USA photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

CH-47 anticipating sling loading Mil 8, Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, August 2019.

Video explainer, CH-47 sling loads Hip bones in Germany, June 2019:

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

Note that the tail boom, main rotors, landing gear and other loose ‘Hip’ bones are shoved into the fuselage.  Storck Barracks, Illesheim, Germany, 12MAR2019.

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

Video explainer, using Hip bones for sling load training in Germany:

Prepping a Mil 8 for use as a sling load trainer, Hohenfels, Germany, 12MAR2019.

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

Video, CH-47 Chinook recovers junk Mil 8 in Afghanistan, November 2017:

 

USMC photo by Corporal Ursula V. Smith, 25SEP2019.

RECOVERING UH-1 SKELETONS

VEHICLE I-D: MIL 24 HIND ‘SATAN’S CHARIOTS’