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Russia delivers 4 Mi-35 combat-transport helicopters to Belarus.
The Belarusian Air Force has recently received four new Mi-35M combat-transport helicopters from Russia. This development underscores Russia's persistent arms exports despite the Ukraine war. The delivery of these helicopters serves to underscore the strengthening military collaboration between Belarus and Russia.
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Russian Mi-35M helicopter (Picture source: Air Recognition)
Even as global attention remains focused on Russia's actions in Ukraine, Moscow remains active in exporting military hardware. Illustrating this trend, Russia has dispatched four Mi-35M combat-transport helicopters to the Republic of Belarus' Air Force. Belarusian pilots transported these helicopters from a training center within Russian Federation territory to the 50th Composite Air Base situated in the Minsk region.
The agreement facilitating the delivery of the Mi-35M helicopters was formalized during the "Army-2020" International Military-Technical Forum exhibition.
The Mi-35M combat-transport helicopter is designed to provide fire support to ground troops, conduct air escort missions, transport soldiers, and evacuate casualties. The rotorcraft can be operated in combat, assault, transport, and medevac configurations.
The Mi-35M helicopter is fitted with a powerful armament suite that incorporates a flexible gun mount with a 23 mm GSh-23L cannon with an ammunition load of 450 rounds, up to 80 80 mm S-8 unguided rockets, up to eight anti-tank guided missiles, gun pods with 23 mm gun armament (each pod has an ammunition load of 250 rounds), and a Kord 12.7 mm heavy machinegun. To operate these weapons effectively, the Mi-35M helicopter is fitted with an up-to-date onboard radio-electronic suite that provides round-the-clock usage of the rotor-wing aircraft and weapons.
The Mi-35M has a maximum take-off weight of 11,500 kg, a maximum external payload of 2,400 kg, a maximum speed of 315 km/h, a cruise speed of 260 km/h, a flight range of 415-1,085 km (depending on the variant), a dynamic ceiling of 5,700 m, a static ceiling of 3,100 m, a crew of two pilots, and a passenger capacity of eight soldiers.
The Mi-35 stands out as a combat-focused platform, renowned for its air-to-ground capabilities and fire support in battlefield scenarios. The Mi-35's distinct strengths lie in its role as an attack helicopter, making it an asset for precision strikes and anti-armor missions, thus complementing the broader capabilities of the Belarusian helicopter fleet.
Apart from the Mi-35M, the Belarusian military operates a diverse fleet of other helicopters, each serving specific roles. The 129 Mil Mi-8 helicopters are essential for troop transport, search and rescue missions, and medical evacuations, showcasing their operational versatility. The 15 Mil Mi-6 helicopters excel in heavy transport and logistical duties, facilitating efficient movement of substantial loads. The 26 Mil Mi-24 helicopters play a pivotal role in combat operations, handling attack and ground support missions. Lastly, the 14 Mil Mi-26 helicopters are dedicated to transporting heavy loads and crucial equipment, highlighting their significance in logistical and deployment operations. Each helicopter type holds a strategic position within Belarus' fleet, contributing to its operational diversity and capability.