The destruction of the Mi-35 helicopter by an anti-aircraft missile was filmed on video

Rebels from the Tigray People's Liberation Front were able to destroy the Mi-35 fire support helicopter of the Ethiopian Air Force last week.

Video footage from the combat area appeared on social networks. They depict two rotorcraft flying at low altitude over hilly terrain. Perhaps they were engaged in patrolling.

At this moment, the "flying tank" of the slave was attacked, as it is assumed, by a rocket of a portable complex, presumably - "Arrow" or "Needle.

After a bright flash of the explosion, leaving a plume of smoke, the burning helicopter almost immediately rushed to the ground. After a few moments, a dense black cloud of smoke began to rise into the sky above the crash site. Considering how quickly events were developing, the pilots on board had almost no chance to escape.

Also at the end of last week, a video was released showing helicopter gunships circling over a similar area firing unguided rockets at the enemy. In both cases, for some unknown reason, the crews did not use false thermal targets, which are capable of disorienting the infrared guidance heads of anti-aircraft missiles.

For the entire time of the conflict, this is the second "thirty-fifth" lost in battles. The previous incident was reported in the second half of April this year. Then the crew, consisting of three servicemen, died. According to some reports, now the government army aviation can use only 16 Mi-24 and Mi-35.

In addition to helicopters, a Soviet-made MiG-23 fighter jet and a Lockheed C-130 Hercules four-engine turboprop transporter purchased in the United States were also lost.

Alexey Moiseev