Russian M-8

Russian M-8 "Hippo" Utility Helicopter

Firing rockets against ground targets armed Helicopter Type of Rice -17

M-8A helicopter early three-view

Croatian Defence Forces of all meters-8MTV-1 Helicopter

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Hippo Forever - the Soviet Union / Russia, Family Helicopters M-8/17

Miri Soviet Design Bureau developed the m -8 tactical transport helicopter, hippopotamus can be described as the most successful family of design products

Since the successful development of the 20th century, after 60 years, rice has been exported -8 helicopter hippopotamus, many countries in the world. M -8 not only in the Soviet Union, pro-Soviet Eastern European countries and third world countries served, but also by some Western countries buying large quantities. -8 For the evaluation of user m is: life is long, firm, durable, can take a variety of military and civilian missions. In its large family, both firepower "gunboat machine", but also comfortable and luxurious VIP plane. The end of 2003, rice -8 in 70 countries have been the Air Force and Army active duty, output of more than 12,300.Currently, the implementation of the mission is still the number of hippos in about 3650 helicopters, of which Russia is equipped with 1950, other countries, equipped with more than 1,700 aircraft.

● The first generation of small scale edge Hippo

M -8 prototype on June 24, 1961 flight, when Miri design bureau called V-8. The plane installed a V-8 engine, known as the Hippo by NATO-A. August 2, 1962, with two engines of the V-8A (NATO code-named Hippo-B) modified for its first flight, and mass production became the prototype of rice -8. In 1965, the Kazan helicopter company to start mass production meters -8 hippo-B helicopter, the helicopter is mainly used for personnel transport. Followed by the first m -8 military-style M-8TV also in 1968 into the Soviet Union army. M-8TV can carry 2 or 4 16 57 mm rocket launchers, heavy nests, or 2,000 kg air bombs. In 1973, Miri Design Bureau has designed the improved success of m-8TV, NATO called the Hippo-E, and Mi-8TV compared to hippo-E of the fire more powerful, it can be mounted on 57 mm 6 32 nest rocket, 2000 kilograms of air bombs and four 9M17P (AT-4) anti-tank missiles. In the ensuing years, Miri Design Bureau Youyi m-8TV-based, have launched a variety of special-purpose helicopters, such as electronic surveillance (ELINT), communications reconnaissance (COMINT), electronic interference (ECM) and battlefield command (C2W) helicopters.

The first generation of meters -8 company installed two Klimov TV2-117 engine developed, this engine's maximum power of 1250 kilowatts. M -8 production tasks were assigned to two factories - Kazan factory (known as the state-run Soviet aviation factories 387) and Ulan-Ude plant (UUAP, Soviet-era factory called the state-run Air 99.) The former produced a total of 4500 meters -8 first generation, including 1,700 for export, while the latter produced the first generation of 3700 meters -8, all equipped with the Soviet Union for military and domestic civilian sector.

● Getting better in the second generation of Hippo

In 1971, Miri design bureau began a systematic first-generation meters -8 modern improvements, the main purpose is to improve the thrust-weight ratio m -8. Klimov Design Bureau developed the code for the TV3-117 turbo-fan engines, this engine and use the original meters -8 compared TV2-117 engine, power increased to 1,874 kilowatts, and has a new main gearbox and mechanical components. To improve the engine, while Miri design bureau also meters -8 form and body structure has been redesigned to make even more succinct succinct hippopotamus.These improvements, Hema second generation, even more than its predecessor with good flying ability. In 1975, the design will improve Miri completed name of rice -8 m-8MT (NATO called the Hippo-H), and in that year on August 17 was first flight in 1971, Miri Design Bureau also gives the m-8MT new code - m -17. 1979 to 1989 war in Afghanistan to m-8MT fame, and sometimes as many countries rushed to buy the helicopter. The reinforcement of its body, improve the ability to fly, rice-8MT guerrillas in Afghanistan were attacked, still reflects the vitality and reliability.

1985 meters -8 to give battle in the plateau region and the ability to perform tasks, Miri Design Bureau in the m-8MT derived on the basis of a new type called the m-8MTV helicopter. This variant is installed 2 sets of TV3-117VM engine, this engine equipped with a hydraulic control system telex, at an altitude of 6,000 meters, the maximum power can be increased to 1,800 kilowatts. Since many countries need to use such a high altitude helicopter, the design will Miri m-8MTV named m-17V for export, and in 1988 in Kazan aircraft factory production. In 1990, Miri on rice-8MTV Design Bureau has conducted a series of improvements, and m-17-1V in the Code export.

● Split the third generation of Hippo

90 years into the 20th century, the family still did not stop rice -8 times the pace. Soviet-era helicopters produced meters -8 series of two factories: Ulan-Ude and Kazan factory plant, each of the hippopotamus was a modern improvements to the fierce competition in the market advantage.

Ulan-Ude plant

In 1990, Ulan-Ude plant developed a code for the m-8AMT (exit code -171 meters) of new transport helicopters. The helicopter installed TV3-117VM engine, according to Ulan-Ude plant offer in 2003, each with the export price of rice is 360 -171 million. In 1995, the new self-financing in Ulan-Ude Design Bureau introduced the m-8AMT helicopter gunships. It can carry eight 9M114 (AT-6 Spiral) radio-guided anti-tank missile semi-active, the effective range of 5 km, can penetrate 50 mm homogeneous armor. In addition, m-8AMT also carry the latest 9M120 (AT-9) anti-tank missiles, and its maximum range of 5800 meters, enhanced armor-piercing capability. It is worth mentioning that, in order to self-defense air combat helicopters, Mi-8AMT can also be equipped with a range of 5800 meters of the 9M39 (SA-18 grouse) air to air missiles.

Since 1995, Ulan-Ude Design Bureau has developed a code for the m-8AMTSh (exit code for the m-171Sh) dedicated anti-tank helicopter gunships. The aircraft in August 1996 the first successful test flight, but the weapons systems and other equipment of the test was delayed until the end of 2000 before being completed. Ulan-Ude Design Bureau hoped that the armed helicopters based meters -8 majority of Latin America and Asia to attract the attention of the national army. The turn of the century when the country urgently needed equipment to launch precision-guided missile armed helicopter, but the financial constraints so that they can not buy expensive, such as AH-64 Apache and Western Europe, like the Tiger helicopter, Mi-8AMTSh may to round their dreams.

Kazan factory

In 1990, the Kazan factory based in meters-8MTV developed two improved, namely civilian m-8MTV-2 and military m-8MTV-3. And compared to the original m-8MTV, the two mainly used for personnel and cargo transport helicopter cabin seats from 24 to 30, and can be contained in the machine hanging belly weight 5,000 kg of cargo. M-8MTV-3, also known as export-oriented rice -172.

The request of the Russian army, Kazan Design Bureau developed the code for the m-8MTV-5 of the third generation of Hippo. In 1998, the Kazan helicopter plant began producing the new, and the rice-17V-5 and Mi-17MD the code exports. M-8MTV-5 re-design of the fuselage, and weather radar installed in the nose, and enhance some of the important parts of the ceramic armor, and expand the capacity of the tank, equipped with the number of soldiers from 30 to 40. M-8MTV-5 completed its first flight in 1996, followed by air for a 2-year trial. In 1999, Rwanda has ordered the factory to the Kazan 5 m-17V-5, including 4 for the general type, a special plane for government officials.

M-17MD and Mi-17V-5 in comparison, although the same is m-8MTV-5 of the export-oriented, but more biased in favor of Western design. The use of a number of western electronic devices, aircraft, unit price of about 500 million U.S. dollars. M-17MD installed Honeywell's EDZ-756 Electronic Flight Information System, Primus II-type radio communication system, VG-14/DG-14 altimeter and direction of the compass, P7000 color radar and flight guidance DFZ indexing system. The late 20th century, 90, Kazan Qiluo Wa factories and aircraft manufacturing company in Canada, launched the m-172KF three-toed gulls, the helicopter and Mi-17MD in fact not much different, except the lack of new cargo ramp outside. The helicopters finally got orders for Korea, the police force in 2000 and 2001 the delivery of a fight.