The press service of the 16th Separate Army Aviation Brigade called Brody posted a photo on its Facebook page showing the process of preparing one of the helicopters for a combat mission. The peculiarity is that the image shows Mi-24VP variant of an attack helicopter. It is quite rare for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and its photo was officially shown for the first time since russia's full-scale invasion. The place and time when this photo is unknown.
The basic feature of the Mi-24VP is in its weapons. We are talking about the presence of a mobile gun system NPPU-24 turret with GS-23L twin-barreled 23 mm autocannon. The ammunition capacity is 460 rounds, and the rate of fire is 3,500 rounds per minute. According to some reports, the Mi-24VP is also characterized by the ability to use R-60M air-to-air missiles to defend against short-range air targets.
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Serial production of the Mi-24VP helicopters started in 1989. Production volumes of this modification vary depending on the source. Some put the figure at 170 units, others at only 20-30 Mi-24VP helicopters.
According to the photo from the press service of the 16th Army Aviation Brigade, this is Mi-24VP that was at the disposal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine before February 2022 (in service or in storage). Since no helicopters of this modification have been transferred to the Defense Forces of Ukraine as part of the assistance from partner countries.
For instance, the Czech Republic provided the Armed Forces of Ukraine with Mi-24B helicopters, which began operating against russians in July 2022. There were talks that Poland could also give its Mi-24 helicopters to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in July 2023. Poland had only Mi-24B and Mi-24D helicopters at its disposal.
Last spring, there were reports that North Macedonia intended to give Ukraine all its 12 Mi-24 helicopters purchased in 2001. But it was about Mi-24B and Mi-24K variants of helicopters.
Earlier Defense Express reported that Ukrainian pilots were conducting high-risk wild weasel tactic.
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