Czech Mi-24 Hinds to Be Sent to Ukraine, along with weapons from Lithuania

Mi-24 Hinds are being sent to Ukraine from Czech Republic.

A little video update about weapons been sent to Ukraine. So today, Czech Republic … or Czechia if you will, announced that it is going to send attack helicopters to Ukraine. These are one of the weapons desperately needed along with artillery, but also one that is difficult to supply as Ukraine uses Soviet-era helicopters, which aren’t used much by NATO overall. Hungary is one—the video you can see is of a Hungarian Mi-24 during excercises.

But the Czechs have delivered, announcing that they will send some attack helicopters to Ukraine. Now, the type wasn’t actually clarified, but we don’t need to get the Scooby Gang on the case to solve this one. It’ll be the Mi-24 as that is the only attack helicopter operated by Czechia. Numbers weren’t given, but Czechia has 15 operational.

The Mi-24 is quite a well known chopper, serving at the forefront of Soviet forces during the Cold War. At the start of the Ukraine War, Ukraine operated 35 of these.

So the Mi-24 is rather old, entering service in 1972, but it is still quite capable and serves in Air Forces across the world. 2,648 were produced. It has quite a distinct design with its tandem cockpit and double bubble canopy. It gives it quite a futuristic appearance I think.

The Mi-24 was designed to be speedy. The airframe was made to be streamlined and the undercarriage can be retracted. A modified Mi-24 was the holder of the absolute speed record for helicopters from 1978 until 1986—nbroken by a British Lynx.

Unlike other attack helicopters, the Mi-24 combines features of armored gunship and troop transport, able to carry out both roles at the same time.

It’s served in many, many, many wars and so is pretty combat tested. From the little known Ogaden War of 1977-1978 to the present invasion of Ukraine.

So, let’s look at the numbers. It can carry 8 troops as well as a crew of 2-3. It’s max speed is 335 kilometers an hour and a range of 450 kilometers.

It can be outfitted with a variety of different weapons. This includes a 12.7 mm Yak-B gatling gun, various types of rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles. It’s a pretty heavily armed beast.

Since Ukraine has experience in operating the Mi-24, there won’t be any training required, so ideally they can be sent almost straight into battle.

And a bonus mentioned, here at the end, Lithuania too has announced it is sending some equipment to Ukraine. They are sending 20 M113 apcs to add to Ukraine’s growing supply, 10 military trucks and 10 SUVs which have been modified for carrying demining equipment and demining teams. The military trucks especially will be important as logistics will be one of the key things in this war and Ukraine doesn’t have a massive supply.