The Nigerian military plans to upgrade its Mi-24/35 helicopters to the level of the latest version - the Mi-35P Phoenix. Russian and foreign-made equipment will be installed on the machines.
"The helicopter combines modern high-precision weapons to destroy ground-based armored targets and provide air support for ground missions. It can be an attack on the intended targets, medical evacuation or transport functions," explains the reason for choosing the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) MilitaryAfrica publication.
For the first time, an updated version of the export version of the Soviet Mi-35 helicopter was presented to the Nigerian military in 2019 at the Russian-African Economic Forum in Sochi. The Phoenix multipurpose helicopter made a favorable impression due to the combination of tactical and technical characteristics and firepower.
With a take-off weight of nine tons, the Mi-35P has a maximum speed of about 322 kilometers per hour and is armed with a combination of 12.7-millimeter machine guns, 23-millimeter or 30-millimeter cannons, as well as three suspension points on each of the wings-pylons for installing rocket blocks, anti-tank missiles or bombs.
The range of weapons includes: eight Ataka-B anti-tank guided missiles, blocks with 80 unguided 80-mm missiles and 20 unguided 122-mm missiles. A double-barreled 23 mm cannon with ammunition from 450 to 470 rounds can be installed under the cockpit. The gun can produce from 3,400 to 3,600 rounds per minute.
"Even with huge firepower, the Mi-35 carries eight infantrymen into battle," the newspaper notes.
In addition, the helicopter is equipped with modern avionics, allowing it to perform day and night operations in all weather conditions. The car also has an OPS-24N observation and sighting station, a navigation system with GPS navigation and an additional, as the publication notes, radio station not made in Russia.
Nikolay Grishchenko
