The CNN dedicated an article to Ukraine's helicopter pilots, who serve in the 18th Army Aviation Brigade on Mi-8 helicopters.
It is unlikely that American reporters purposefully choose the division where they received admission. But the practice of the described combat work may affect all the trends that determine the combat use of the army aviation of the Armed Forces in the war against russian occupiers.
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To begin with, as CNN journalists emphasize, the Soviet Mi-8 was not created for strike missions, since it was designed as a transport helicopter. Therefore, this machine does not have cockpit armor, does not have sophisticated aiming equipment. The equipment for countering enemy anti-aircraft missiles can already be called morally outdated. But Ukraine’s pilots say that using the Mi-8 to attack the enemy is "still better than nothing", especially considering the length of the front line and the scale of the hostilities.
Only a combination of experience and hope allows Ukraine’s helicopters pilots to effectively use the Mi-8. For example, some of the middle-aged helicopter pilots, who the CNN spoke with, received their experience during peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the UN in Congo and other African countries. Another young pilot, who American reporters also spoke with, gained his combat experience already during russia’s full-scale invasion, when he flew 100 combat sorties in the past year.
The article emphasizes that Ukraine’s helicopters fly at a low altitude in order to minimize the probability of being hit by all means of russian air defense. But sometimes such a flight format can lead to mechanical damage: for example, the commander of one of the helicopter units damaged 3 out of 5 helicopter blades in such a way that the machine had to be sent for repairs.
In particular, "cannibalism of spare parts" can be used to restore damaged helicopters. To describe the level of wear and tear of Ukraine’s Mi-8 helicopters, CNN reporters show the image with the sides of these well-deserved machines "streaked black with exhaust and oil".
The helicopter pilots of the 18th brigade told American reporters that they carried out strikes against russian invaders near Bakhmut as well. At the same time, confirmation of the results of one of the strikes came 24 hours after the raid, when Ukraine’s drone recorded the results.
Ukraine’s aviators say that they would like to get the Apache, since Western helicopters are better adapted to carry out strike missions and have better capabilities to counter enemy air defense.
Defense Express hopes that this report by CNN is likely to be one of the "starting points" that will lead to the transfer of Western attack helicopters to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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