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Mil Mi-2US: The Polish Utility Gunship
NOTE: I am aware that the Mi-2 has various designations when equipped with different secondary weapons. However, I have confirmed with @leroyonly that it is acceptable to suggest the Mi-2 as a unit containing all secondary weapons like all the other helicopters, as they are all the same craft.
History:
In 1950, the Mil Mi-1 became the first ever helicopter developed by the USSR. A simple and utilitarian vehicle, it used a piston engine to drive the mechanicals. Thanks to said simplicity and ruggedness, it was produced in massive numbers of more than 2500. Despite its success, it was recognized that a replacement would be needed which was more technologically advanced. Thus, in 1960 it was instructed for Mil to develop a turbine-powered replacement. In order to simplify logistics, the gearbox, transmission, and rotor design were retained from the Mi-1, though the material for the tail rotor was soon changed to metal from wood. The prototype, then called the V-2, was developed and took flight for the first time in 1961 at the hands of G.V. Alferov on September 22nd. The flight was a success and the Mi-2 was quickly put into production at the WSK PZL-Swidnik factory in Poland, the only location to manufacture this helicopter. This was due to all the other Russian helicopter plants being occupied with heavier helicopters such as the Mi-8 family. Initially intended as a purely civilian helicopter, the Mi-2 soon found its way into the military sector, with approximately one third of all examples produced being used for military purposes. Once recognized by NATO, it was given the reporting name "hoplite". Over 5400 examples were produced with a wide array of variants, several of which were specific to Poland after the fall of the USSR. It was also exported to over 30 countries, with many still using it to this day. It remains one of the most popular agricultural helicopters in the world, and over the 30-year span of its production saw a number of upgrades to keep it competitive in the market. These included fiberglass rotor blades, uprated versions of the GTD-350 turbines, and more.In terms of military use, Poland developed the majority of the armed versions for their own use, though some were exported to East Germany. For many years it was the only twin-turbine light helicopter in the world, and it remains one of the smallest in its class. But don’t let its size fool you! It packs a punch!
Description:
The Mi-2 outwardly is a very simple and utilitarian helicopter. With a pair of GTD-350 turbine engines, it can move at a top speed of around 120 mph, or 200 km/h. It uses a standard tri-blade rotor design, with a dual-blade tail rotor. The tricycle landing gear is fixed, which does reduce aerodynamics a bit, but it is overall negligible. The armed versions produced for the Polish military received new designations and armaments, **all sharing the same NS-23 main gun** but carrying different secondaries. These include:- Mi-2US: The basic gunship upon which all the rest are based. Main gun is a 23mm NS-23 in a forward fixed mount, with four 7.62mm PKT being used as secondary weapons on outboard pylons, two per side. A pair of 7.62mm PK or RPK-47 machine guns mounted in the doors for manually guided operation are optional.
- Mi-2URS: Only one source made reference to this variant, but I will include it here anyway. This is a US with four Strela-2M missiles for air-to-air combat. The number of PKT machine guns is reduced from 4 to 2.
- Mi-2URN: Instead of the PKT machine guns, this variant carries a pair of 16-shot 57mm rocket pods. These fire the S-5 family of rockets, and as such can carry a wide variety of warheads. Door-mounted PK/RPK machine guns are again optional.
- Mi-2URP: Carries 4 rails for 9M14-M Malyutka-M (AT-3 Sagger) ATGMs, with 4 more stored internally for a total of 8. Optional door-mounted machine guns.
- Mi-2URP-G: Same as above but with four Strela-2M MANPADS in two twin launchers.
As you can see, there are many options for this helicopter, and they will all be interesting (though I don’t think the four PKTs will get much use)!
Unfortunately this helicopter does not carry any armor, so getting in close will be dangerous. The optional door guns are likely to be left off, but theoretically you could have them as AI gunners, which would mean this is the first helicopter to have them (though others, such as the Huey, could for sure).
Specifications:
Spoiler
Main Armament: 23mm NS-23 in fixed mount on right side
Secondary Armament Options:
- 4x 7.62mm PKT Machine Guns
- 2x 7.62mm PKT Machine Guns / 4x Strela-2M MANPADS
- 2x 57mm 16-tube UB-16-57 Rocket Pods (S-5 Series)
- 4x 9M14M Malyutka-M ATGMs + 4 stored inside (8 total, can reload in midair)
- 4+4x 9M14M Malyutka-M ATGMs / 4x Strela-2M MANPADS
Engines: 2x PZL GTD-350 Turbines, 400 shaft horsepower each
Top Speed: 200 km/h (120 mph)
Max Altitude: 4000 m (14000 ft)
Rate of Climb: 4.5 m/s (890 ft/min)
Armor: None
Ammo Count: Unknown for main gun and machine guns, 32 rockets, 8 missiles, 4 MANPADS
Crew: 2 (Pilot, Optional Co-Pilot)
Gallery:
Spoiler
