"When people think of Russian air power, they tend to picture MiG fighter jets soaring through the skies. However, the MiG is not actually the most widely flown aircraft in the Russian Armed Force, in fact it's not even a fighter jet. The most widely flown aircraft in Russia's arsenal is the Hip-H helicopter. (These are 40 gunship helicopters of the modern era.)"
"These helicopters span a few different variations, whether it's the Mi-8, Mi-17, or the Mi-171. Generally speaking, these helicopters are grouped together within the Mi-8/17 family, much like the MiG-29 and MiG-35 Fulcrum fighter jets. The overall design is fairly similar, but there are obviously improvements and upgrades made over the years as military technology advances. The Mi-8/17 series was originally introduced in the 1960s but its newer variants came about in the 1980s, and these are more widely flown."
"These helicopters are used for a variety of missions, like transport, medical evacuation, and combat support. ( The helicopter war: a look at the helicopters that defined the Vietnam War.) The Mi-8/17 family of helicopters has been exported to over 60 countries and is one of the most widely used in the world, not just in Russia. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at Russia's most widely flown aircraft."
The Mi-8/17 Hip helicopter family constitutes the most widely flown aircraft in the Russian Armed Forces. Variants include the Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mi-171, which are grouped within the Mi-8/17 family and retain a similar overall design with progressive upgrades. The series was introduced in the 1960s, with newer variants emerging in the 1980s that now account for greater operational numbers. Hip helicopters perform transport, medical evacuation, and combat support missions. The Mi-8/17 family has been exported to more than 60 countries and remains one of the most widely used helicopter types globally.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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