Mil Mi-2 Explained

The Mil Mi-2 (NATO reporting name Hoplite) is a small, three rotor blade Soviet-designed multi-purpose helicopter developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant designed in the early 1960s, and produced exclusively by WSK "PZL-Świdnik" in Poland. Nearly 5500 were made by the time production stopped in 1999, and it remains in service globally.

Design and development

The Mi-2 was produced exclusively in Poland, in the WSK "PZL-Świdnik" factory in Świdnik.

The first production helicopter in the Soviet Union was the Mil Mi-1, modelled along the lines of the S-51 and Bristol Sycamore and flown by Mikhail Mil's bureau in September 1948. During the 1950s it became evident, and confirmed by American and French development, that helicopters could be greatly improved with turbine engines. S. P. Isotov developed the GTD-350 engine and Mil used two of these in the far superior Mi-2.

The twin shaft-turbine engines used in the Mi-2 develop 40% more power than the Mi-1's piston engines, for barely half the engine weight, with the result that the payload was more than doubled. The Mi-2 fuselage was extensively altered from its predecessor, with the engines mounted overhead. However, the external dimensions remained similar.

The Mil-built prototype first flew in the Soviet Union on 22 September 1961, after the initial development the project was transferred to Poland in 1964. The first Świdnik-built example flew on 4 November 1965 (making this the only Soviet-designed helicopter to be built solely outside the Soviet Union). PZL-Świdnik produced a total of 5,497 helicopters, about a third for military users. The factory also developed fiberglass rotor blades, and developed the wide-body Mi-2M seating 10 passengers instead of eight. Most typical role-change kits include four stretchers for air ambulance usage, or aerospraying or cropdusting applications.

In Poland, several specialized military variants were also developed in early 1970s for support or training roles, with 23 mm autocannon, machine guns and/or two 57 mm rocket pods, four 9K11 Malyutka anti-tank missiles or Strela-2 AA missiles.

Operational history

The Mi-2 was first introduced into the Soviet Air Force in 1965. The Mi-2 is used by mainly former Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries, although it was also purchased by Mexico and Myanmar armed forces.

Most of the armed Mi-2 variants were used by Poland. Some were also used by the former East Germany (with 7.62 mm machine gun and 57 mm unguided rocket armament only).[1]

North Korea still maintains a large active fleet of Mi-2s.

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces were recorded capturing three Mi-2 helicopters in Kherson International Airport.[2]

The helicopter is also used to spray agricultural chemicals by private owners in Ukraine. 2 were killed in a crash in 2021 near Zaive in the region of Mykolaiv.[3]

Variants

V-2
  • First prototype.
    V-2V
  • Armament prototype.
    Mi-2 Platan
  • Aerial minelayer version with 20 tube launchers on external pods and in left cab door, each for six or nine mines. 18 converted for Polish Army starting from 1989.
    Mi-2A
  • Mi-2B
  • Upgraded export version for the Middle East, fitted with improved systems and navigational aids.
    Mi-2Ch Chekla
  • Chemical reconnaissance / smokescreen layer version.
    Mi-2D Przełącznik
  • Aerial command post equipped with R-111 radio.
    Mi-2FM
  • Survey version.
    Mi-2P
  • Passenger / cargo version, with accommodation for 6 passengers.
    Mi-2R
  • Agricultural version.
    Mi-2RL
  • Land rescue/ambulance version.
    Mi-2RM
  • Sea rescue version equipped with electric winch for two people and dropped rafts.
    Mi-2Ro
  • Reconnaissance version equipped with cameras.
    UMi-2Ro
  • Reconnaissance trainer version.
    Mi-2RS Padalec ('Slowworm')
  • Chemical and biohazard reconnaissance version.
    Mi-2S
  • Air ambulance version, equipped to carry four stretcher, plus an attendant.
    Mi-2Sz
  • Dual-control training version.
    Mi-2T
  • Cargo/utility version.
    Mi-2U
  • Dual-control training version.
    Mi-2US
  • Armed version fitted with a fixed 23mm NS-23 cannon, 4 x 7,62mm PKT machine gun pods and optional cabin PK machine gun. 30 built for Polish Army in 1972-73. Similar without a cannon built for East Germany.[1]
    Mi-2URN Żmija ('Viper')
  • Armed variant with a fixed 23mm NS-23 gun and two 16x57mm S-5 unguided rocket pods Mars-2. Optional 7,62mm PK machine gun window-mounted. 7 built for Polish Army in 1973 and 18 rebuilt from Mi-2US. Similar without a cannon built for East Germany.[1]
    Mi-2URP Salamandra ('Salamander')
  • Anti-tank variant, armed with 23mm NS-23 gun, optional window-mounted 7,62mm PK machine gun, and 4x AT-3 Sagger (9M14M Malutka) wire-guided missiles on external weapons racks and 4x additional missiles in the cargo compartment. Two rebuilt and 44 built for Polish Army in 1975-84.
    Mi-2URP-G Gniewosz ('Smooth snake')
  • Mi-2URP with additional 4x AA missiles Strzała-2 (Strela 2) in two Gad rocket launchers. Six rebuilt in 1988.
    Mi-2 Plus
  • Upgraded Mi-2 with uprated GTD-350W2 engines, all-composite rotor blades, new avionics and other modifications.
    Mi-3
  • Planned Mi-2 derivative that lacked suitable engines for the program to continue.
    Mi-2MSB or MSB-2 Nadia ('Hope')
  • Modernized by Motor Sich to passenger-transport version for the civil aviation.[4] [5] [6]
    Mi-2MSB-V or MSB-2MO
  • Modernized by Motor Sich for Ukrainian Air Force.[7] Original engine replaced with AI-450M engine, armed with rocket and machine gun pods, IR-jamming system and flares dispenser for defence against MANPADS.[8]

    Operators

    Former operators

    Czechoslovakia
    Ghana
    Liberia

    References

    Notes and References

    1. Thomas. Girke. Georg. Bader. NRD-owskie Mi-2. DDR's Mi-2. Lotnictwo Wojskowe . 2(5)/1999. March–April 1999. Magnum-X. 46–48. pl.
    2. Web site: Russia Captured Three Of Ukraine's Smallest Helicopters. So Ukraine's Allies Sent Three Replacements.. 18 August 2022. Forbes.
    3. Web site: 2 killed in helicopter crash in Ukraine . 17 July 2021 .
    4. Web site: First flight of upgraded helicopter Mi-2MSB - Motor Sich. Il'yashenko. Matviy. www.motorsich.com. 2016-10-03.
    5. Web site: The Mi-2 upgraded helicopter passed an altitude of 7 thousand meters. - Motor Sich. Il'yashenko. Matviy. www.motorsich.com. 2016-10-03. 2016-10-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20161005084554/http://www.motorsich.com/eng/press/news/news-19.04.16/. dead.
    6. Web site: Modernized helicopter Mi-2MSB (Ukraine). Karpenko. A.V.. bastion-karpenko.ru. 2016-10-03. 2022-01-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20220117094433/http://bastion-karpenko.ru/msb-2/. dead.
    7. Web site: Ukrainian Military Helicopters - Modernization And Development Plans. 2016-10-03. 2016-10-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20161005081615/http://www.defence24.com/269678,ukra...odernization-and-development-plans. dead.
    8. Web site: Mi-2MSB - Ukrainian Combat Variant Of The Mi-2 Helicopter. Defence24.com. October 2015 .
    9. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 33.
    10. Web site: World Air Forces 2022. Flightglobal . 2022 . 10 July 2022. registration.
    11. TEMPO Edisi 19-25 Maret 2007 (pp. 36-37)
    12. ANGKASA No.07 Edisi April 2007 (p. 16)
    13. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 44.
    14. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 45.
    15. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 46.
    16. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 47.
    17. Web site: Poland Border Guard Aircraft Types. aeroflight.co.uk. 12 February 2013.
    18. Web site: ATIS 항공기술정보시스템(need to manually type and search the aircraft model in "검색".). 14 July 2024.
    19. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, pp. 47–48.
    20. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 48.
    21. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 50.
    22. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 52.
    23. Web site: United States Army Threat Systems Management Office (TSMO). Angelfire. 12 February 2013.
    24. Web site: Operator Performance Labs. opl.uiowa.edu. 12 February 2013.
    25. Book: Studies . International Institute for Strategic . The Military Balance 1999-2000 . 1999 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-922425-8 . 8 August 2023 . en.
    26. Web site: Bulgarian (PZL-Swidnik) Mi-2. Demand media. 12 February 2013.
    27. Web site: Cuba Air Force Aircraft Types. aeroflight.co.uk. 12 February 2013.
    28. Web site: 2018 . World Air Forces 2018 . 4 August 2018 . Flightglobal Insight.
    29. Web site: Djibouti Air Force Aircraft Types. xairforces.net. 10 February 2011.
    30. Web site: Mil Mi-2 datbase . 12 February 2013 . helicopter-database.de.
    31. Web site: Polizei Mil Mi-2 (PZL-Swidnik) . 12 February 2013 . Demand media.
    32. Web site: Hungary Police Aviation. aeroflight.co.uk. 12 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130111155914/http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/hung/pol/hung-pol-home.htm. 11 January 2013.
    33. Web site: Hungary Police Mil Mi-2. Demand media. 12 February 2013.
    34. Hoyle and Farfad Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 43.
    35. Web site: Lithuania - Air Force Mil Mi-2. jetphotos.net. 12 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150508232837/http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7373207. 8 May 2015.
    36. Web site: Mexican Armada. aeroflight.co.uk. 15 February 2013.
    37. http://www.worldairforces.com/countries/mongolia/mon.html World Air Forces - Historical Listings Mongolia (MON)
    38. Web site: World Air Forces 2013. Flightglobal Insight. 15 February 2013.
    39. Web site: Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe » Ostatni lot Mi-2. 2021-03-22. pl-PL.
    40. Web site: Mi-2 Helicopter. History of Development. 15 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120330164151/http://www.mi-helicopter.ru/eng/index.php?id=123. 30 March 2012.
    41. Book: Studies (IISS) . The International Institute for Strategic . The Military Balance 2014 . 24 December 2021 . Routledge . 978-1-000-67421-7 . 194−197 . 8 August 2023 . en.
    42. Web site: Mi-2 DataBase. helicopter-database.de. 12 February 2013.
    43. Web site: Aeroflot Mil Mi-2. jetphotos.net. 12 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150628223944/http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=268307. 28 June 2015.
    44. Web site: Yugoslavian use of Mil Mi-2 in military and air ambulance use . 9 March 2015.

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