- Yes
- No
G’day lads! I’ve seen that there aren’t that many South African helicopters that have been suggested, but I was especially surprised by the fact that there was no SuperHind suggestion, so here I am suggesting it for the future in WT!
Description:
Spoiler
The ATE SuperHind is a revamped version of the Mil Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter, crafted by the South African company Advanced Technologies and Engineering (ATE). This upgrade cleverly fuses advanced South African weapon systems and avionics with the rugged Mi-24 airframes. Enhanced performance comes from weight reduction and other modifications.
Instead of rolling out new aircraft, the SuperHind upgrades existing Mi-24 airframes, boosting combat capabilities and efficiency without the hefty price tag of new machines. It’s loaded with cutting-edge avionics (at it’s time), advanced targeting systems, and modern weaponry.
The SuperHind can pack a punch with its arsenal, including 20mm cannon pods, anti-tank guided missiles, and rocket launchers. Because of it’s capabilities, it was also sold to countries like Algeria and Azerbaijan, where as far as I know, are still operating.
History:
Spoiler
I cannot really talk that much about its history, as there isn’t a lot written about its history, but here is everything I can say about it:
The ATE SuperHind project kicked off in the 1990s, driven by the South African firm Advanced Technologies and Engineering (ATE) . They took the sturdy Mi-24 Hind helicopters and embarked on a mission to significantly improve their capabilities. This involved a series of upgrades and enhancements aimed at making the Mi-24 more effective and versatile. Due to having good relationship with Algeria, I assume thats where South Africa got it’s original Hinds from, as South Africa didn’t have any Hinds before the SuperHind (ofc).
ATE’s strategy was to retrofit existing Mi-24 airframes with cutting-edge technology rather than build new helicopters from scratch. Over time, they introduced several iterations, like the SuperHind Mk.III and SuperHind Mk.IV , each bringing further advancements.
It entered service in 2001 in Algeria, with 34 SuperHind Mk.III being made and 10 Mk.IV being made. Also, something important to note is that ATE Systems is now the Paramount Group, which still offers the SuperHind modernization, but in terms of capabilities, they are the exact same. As far as I know, South Africa has never used the SuperHind for it’s own military, as it’s meant for export.
Armaments:
Spoiler
1 GI-2 20mm cannon (same one found on the Rooivalk!)
8 (possibly 16) Ingwe ATGM
16 Shturm/Ataka ATGM
8 (possibly 16) Mokopa ATGM
8 BARRIER-V ATGM’s
Mistral (around 4)
Something important to note; the SuperHind never lost the ability to carry older Hind weaponry, which means it can carry things like Iglas or possibly R60’s
Around 4 Iglas
UB-32-57mm pods
B-8M1 pods
B8V20-A pods
S-5 rockets
B-13L pods
S-13 rockets
S-24 rockets
Uses either the Zh-3YM-1 Schchel-3U HMD or the Thales TopOwl HMD
Specifications:
Spoiler
The ATE SuperHind is an advanced attack helicopter with a crew capacity of two, featuring a pilot positioned above and behind the gunner. Optionally, it can accommodate two door gunners. It’s powered by two robust Klimov 1500-horsepower TV3-117 turboshaft engines.
In terms of dimensions, the helicopter measures 17.51 meters in length, a rotor diameter of 17.30 meters, and a height of 3.97 meters. It has an empty weight of 8,200 kilograms, and when fully loaded, it weighs in at 26,455 kilograms. The SuperHind is capable of achieving a maximum speed of 180 knots (279 kilometers per hour) and can cover a range of 1,000 kilometers when equipped with external fuel pods.
Sources:
Spoiler
There are more sources, however due to Archive.org being attacked, I cannot archive some links and share them here. I’ll add them once the website is back up to its normal standards!
https://www.paramountgroup.com/media/1219/sighting-series-final.pdf
https://www.paramountgroup.com/media/2185/paramount-nighthawk-2023.pdf
ATE Super Hind Mk. III | Weaponsystems.net
Mi-24 Super Hind | Thai Military and Asian Region
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6j1MjXKMZo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVrnCF0uf9E
The Super Hind Mk.III Could Be the Best Mi-24 Ever - War Is Boring
Advanced Technologies and Engineering - Aerospace engineering
Thanks a lot for reading! If you have any extra information, then feel free to share them in the replies! As always, have a good day :)
