Impressive: Mi-24 Hind helicopters performing rocket runs at low altitude in Syria
The following videos were filmed in Syria in the last hours and show Mi-24 Hind helicopters (Russian ones, deployed to Latakia along with the rest of the RuAF contingent, according to the first unverified reports), fighting rebels.
The first footage (now removed) shows two Hinds (a type of helo flown also by the Syrian Arab Air Force and frequently used against revolutionaries since the beginning of the uprising) during a rocket attack at very low altitude in Kafr Nabudah, in northwestern Syria. The two choppers can be seen overflying the village and releasing plenty of flares to deceive potential MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems) in the hands of rebel forces.
MANPADS have been successfully used against Mi-24/25s in Syria, Ukraine and Armenia.
And here is another video, showing Syrian rebels shooting at an Mi-24 helicopter with their AK-47s. This footage was allegedly filmed in Latakia.
What looks like a mortar can be briefly spotted in this second video at 0:46: did the Mi-24s attack that position in order to wipe out a mortar possibly threatening the RuAF base at al-Assad International Airport?
H/T to Alessandro Borsetti for sending the links to these interesting videos.
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Why would they be flying so low?
Russian pilots – enormous balls that are so heavy they cannot gain altitude?
Because they are not dropping bombs on desert sand like others are doing in the past 12 months and fooling all of you.
mainly to avoid MANPADS.
Those Mi-24s aren’t equipped with modern anti-manpad systems. At least it looks like it from previous videos from airbase.
Also it’s one of the main Mi-24’s advantages, you wouldn’t see or hear them coming until they are above your head.
Helicopter low level attacks with unguided rockets… what you see there is what the Mi-24 was originally conceived for. Fully exploiting their capability would see them landing and pouring some infantry while other Mi-8/17s incoming to the scene after the initial Mi-24 attack do the same, mopping up the area.
“…what you see there is what the Mi-24 was originally conceived for.”?
In the 1970’s….
I wonder if those Mi-24 have some brand new anti-MANPAD-systems?
btw there are no original rebels in syria anymore. their exile government sits in istanbul and has no backing of the syrian people. most free syrian army recruits fled, or were absorbed into islamist groups. what remains, is al nusra, al-sham and many other islamists who are almost as bad as those butchers from isis.
I wouldn’t compare Al-Nusra to ISIS. They’re completely different in their sociopolitical strategies. For one, Al-Nusra achieves assimilation and cooperation of people living in towns under their control through “diplomatic” tactics, if you will. They don’t force Sharia law on towns that reject it, Christian or Muslim, and don’t use fear as a way of controlling people, unlike ISIS. They try to make their people loyal through giving an image of a non-extremist organization.
Finally, the Free Syrian Army still exists. But through mediocre outside support, their numbers are dwindling and their territory shrinking.
Whatever the difference is, they’re all armed foreign backed opposition to the elected government which makes them legitimate targets, just as any armed groups would be if they were operating against the government in eg, the US or UK. Russia is now doing what US led NATO has ‘somehow’ failed to do for years.
the Syrian government is not elected, it’s a dictatorship. comparing it to the US or UK (however much you may dislike them) is absurd.
Al-Nusra is Al-CIAda, the good guys in the ’80ies, then the bad guys for 2 decades, now again the good guys, as uncle sam sees fit.
FSA is practically history.
There is this story from the US. No government troops in Syria? This is what you call “plausible deniability”: http://nbc.com.co/u-s-company-hiring-mercenaries-to-kill-isis/
if al-Nusra are not forcing Sharia on people it’s only because they want to ride along the uprising and take power if Assad is removed. Then they will be just as ruthless as IS.
Unguided aerial rockets (ARA, in the old US Army parlance) are fairly inaccurate, area-effect weapons that get more inaccurate the higher they are launched. I’m guessing the Hind crews are staying low to fire more accurately…and to see their targets. They’re probably using the old MK1 eyeball to spot the terrs on the ground.
Unguided aerial rockets (ARA, in the old US Army parlance) are fairly inaccurate, area-effect weapons that get more inaccurate the higher they are launched. I’m guessing the Hind crews are staying low to fire more accurately…and to see their targets. They’re probably using the old MK1 eyeball to spot the terrs on the ground.
7.62s won’t bring down a hind…maybe the rooski zsu cannon
a lot of 7.62 ammo could change their life… just they did not get enough in that action.
With this imprudence, it’s only a matter of time until one is shot down. The Russians are really pushing it.
not really. This is the safest and most effective tactic to use. The Hinds were basically made for this.
I’m not questioning how the Hinds are being used. I’m questioning their use altogether. A ZS cannon truck at the right place and the right time could spell disaster.
Hinds are basically made to be used like that. As said, it’s the most effective safest way to use them in that particular situation. The lower they fly, the better it is.