Video shows first direct hit of a Surface to Air Missile on a Syrian helicopter

November 27, 2012 Helicopters, Syria
David Cenciotti

The following video clearly shows a Syrian Mil Mi-17 Hip helicopter hit by a surface-to-air missile near Aleppo on Nov. 27, 2012.

Even if there we have seen many videos showing Assad’s gunships downed by rebels fire, this is the first one to provide evidence of a direct hit using a SAM.

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About David Cenciotti
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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

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5 Comments

  2. Are there any telling signs in the video that this is something other than an unguided RPG type weapon?

  5. Preliminary Analysis:
    – Helicopter: Mi-17.
    – Tail rotor is on left-hand side of fuselage.
    – Unclear if evasive maneuvers were being taken.
    – Clearly hit by a guided SAM, type unknown.
    – Likely MANPAD.
    – Missile impact on left side just below rotor hub.
    – Probably tracking heat signature from engine.
    – Appears as though the left-hand engine was damaged.
    – Note vapor trail. (0:25)
    – Right-hand engine likely operational, explains lack of immediate loss of control.
    – Right-hand engine panel appears to be blown open. (0:31)

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