Russia has deployed its notorious Mi-24 helicopter gunships to Syria, where they are part of the operation against Islamic State terrorist targets.
Mi-24 "Hind" patrols #ruaf base in #syria. Managed to snap it in slow-mo! pic.twitter.com/H6qG9QES41
— Murad Gazdiev (@MuradoRT) October 6, 2015
According to Colonel Igor Klimov of the Russian Air Force in Hmeymim Air Base in Syria, the Mi-24 helicopters are currently being used for patrolling the area around the airfield and for potential search and rescue missions. The Mi-24 is considered to be one of most deadly and versatile helicopters in the world.
"The Mi-24 accelerates up to 300 kilometers per hour and rises to an altitude of up to 4.5 kilometers," Klimov told RIA Novosti.
Each Russian Mi-24 helicopter in Syria is also armed with four blocks of 20 unguided air-to ground rockets and a 30-millimeter cannon.
Mi-24s usually patrol around the #ruaf airbase in pairs. They fly VERY low, pilots tell me — 10 to 50 meters pic.twitter.com/ZrWF29D88l
— Murad Gazdiev (@MuradoRT) October 6, 2015
In addition to the Mi-24 helicopters, Russia has deployed Mi-8AMTSh "Terminator" transport and combat helicopters to Syria.
