The Mil Mi-24 is a big army helicopter that has been in manufacturing since 1969. The Russians name it a flying tank – due to its weight and talent to combat even with armoured automobiles. Such helicopters are utilized by numerous nations, together with Ukraine, which has now realized to pair them with American fin-stabilized unguided rockets Hydra 70.
Hydra 70 missiles weren’t developed with the Mi-24 in thoughts, or vice versa, however the pair can work collectively. Picture credit score: Mil.gov.ua through Wikimedia (CC BY 4.0)
Most of the Mi-24s utilized by Ukraine are about three many years outdated. A lot of these helicopters had been transferred to Ukraine by the companions as properly, however some are a relict from the Soviet days. After all, this mannequin is a creation from the Nineteen Sixties, however the improvement of the Hydra 70 rockets started shortly after the Second World Warfare – again within the late Nineteen Forties.
These rockets had been particularly designed for and are in all probability finest suited to helicopters and assault airplanes, though they’re utilized in a wide range of methods.
A U.S. soldier masses Hydra 70 ammunition. Picture credit score: U.S. Military
Hydra 70 rockets weren’t developed for Soviet helicopters in thoughts, nonetheless. The Hydra 70 was not developed for the Mi-24 and the Mi-24 was not developed for the Hydra 70. Nonetheless, these rockets have an surprising benefit – they’re unguided.
It sounds unusual, however this makes them less complicated and simpler to combine into new unusual programs. The US has delivered greater than 7,000 such rockets to Ukraine, however Ukraine doesn’t have Western helicopters of the A-10. Which means Ukraine wants to show its outdated canines some new tips.
Ukraine’s Mi-24s have now realized to make use of Hydra 70 rockets, The Warfare Zone studies. This newly unlocked functionality of the Mi-24 doubtlessly implies that Hydra 70 rockets may be built-in with Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters, which Ukraine additionally has.
Ukrainian airman loading American Hydra 70 unguided rockets right into a rocket pod of the Czech-delivered Mil Mi-24V helicopter. pic.twitter.com/KxZm4zLqtw
— Standing-6 (@Archer83Able) August 1, 2023
Czech-proviced Mi-24s in Ukraine acquired Hydra 70 rocket launchers M261. No phrase on what modifications had been required to make this potential, however they in all probability weren’t intensive.
A M261 launcher has house for 19 rockets and with out them weighs simply 36.3kg. Hydra 70 rockets are sometimes fired in a big salvo with the nostril of the helicopter barely angled upwards. It isn’t a really correct weapon, since these rockets will not be guided, however the Hydra 70 works in the same technique to the Grad MLRS – one volley destroys a pretty big space of enemy’s positions.
The Hydra is a modular system with a number of warhead variations. Some Hydra rockets additionally assault armoured automobiles. After all, it isn’t recognized what model of Hydra rockets had been transferred to Ukraine. Nonetheless, that is nice information, as a result of Hydra 70 rockets can be found and may be resupplied as soon as Ukraine goes by them.
Written by Povilas M.
