Mil Mi-2 Hoplite

Summary

Category	Helicopter
Origin country	🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
First flight	22 September 1961
Year of introduction	1965
Number produced	5497 units

Description

The Mil Mi-2's development was initiated to enhance helicopter performance using turbine engines, influenced by 1950s advancements. S. P. Isotov designed the GTD-350 engine. Mil integrated two GTD-350 engines into the Mi-2, providing a 40% power increase with half the weight of previous designs, doubling the payload. The fuselage underwent significant modification, including overhead engine mounting, yet external dimensions remained comparable to the Mi-1. The Mil-built prototype first flew on September 22, 1961, in the Soviet Union. In 1964, final development and production transferred to Poland at PZL-Świdnik, where the first model built there flew on November 4, 1965. PZL-Świdnik manufactured a total of 5,497 Mi-2 helicopters, with approximately one-third allocated for military applications, ceasing production in 1999.

The Mil Mi-2 is a small, multi-purpose helicopter utilizing a three-blade rotor system. It incorporated two Isotov GTD-350 shaft-turbine engines mounted overhead. The fuselage was extensively altered to accommodate this engine configuration. PZL-Świdnik developed fiberglass rotor blades and a wide-body Mi-2M variant capable of seating 10 passengers. Role-change kits were developed to allow rapid conversion for air ambulance, aerospraying, or cropdusting duties.

Specialized military variants were developed in Poland featuring armament such as 23 mm autocannons, machine guns, 57 mm rocket pods, and anti-tank or air-to-air missiles. These variants were introduced in the early 1970s for support and training roles. The Mi-2US featured a fixed 23mm NS-23 cannon and four 7.62mm PKT machine gun pods, with an optional cabin-mounted PK machine gun. The Mi-2URN Żmija included a fixed 23mm NS-23 gun and two 16-round pods for 57mm S-5 unguided rockets. The Mi-2URP Salamandra, an anti-tank variant, was armed with a 23mm NS-23 gun, an optional window-mounted 7.62mm PK machine gun, and four 9K11 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) anti-tank missiles on external racks, with provisions for carrying four additional missiles internally. The Mi-2URP-G Gniewosz added four Strzała-2 AA missiles in two Gad rocket launchers to the URP configuration. The Mi-2MSB-V or MSB-2MO, modernized by Motor Sich for the Ukrainian Air Force, was configured with provisions for rocket and machine gun pods, along with an IR-jamming system and flare dispensers for defense against MANPADS.

First introduced into the Soviet Air Force in 1965, the Mi-2 was widely operated by former Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries, and also by nations such as Mexico and Myanmar. Poland operated the majority of the armed Mi-2 variants. Some saw service in the former East Germany, equipped with 7.62 mm machine guns and 57 mm unguided rockets. North Korea maintains an active fleet. Civilian roles include agricultural spraying. Russian forces captured three Mi-2 helicopters at Kherson International Airport during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. As of March 8, 2025, Ukraine had recorded the loss of six Mi-2 helicopters, including the three captured.

Main Variants:

Mi-2P: Passenger/cargo version accommodating up to six passengers.
Mi-2R: Agricultural variant equipped for crop dusting and aerial spraying.
Mi-2S: Air ambulance version equipped to carry four stretchers and a medical attendant.
Mi-2US: Armed version fitted with a fixed 23mm NS-23 cannon, 4 x 7,62mm PKT machine gun pods and optional cabin PK machine gun.
Mi-2URP Salamandra ('Salamander'): Anti-tank variant armed with a 23mm NS-23 gun, optional window-mounted 7,62mm PK machine gun, and 4x AT-3 Sagger (9M14M Malutka) wire-guided missiles on external weapons racks.

Technical specifications

Version: Mi-2T
Crew	1 pilot
Maximum speed	200 km/h (124 mph)
Height	3.8 m (12.3 ft)
Length	11.4 m (37.4 ft)
Service ceiling	4000 m (13123 ft)
Empty weight	2372 kg (5229 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	3700 kg (8157 lbs)
Climb rate	4.5 m/s (14.8 ft/s)
Powerplant	2 × turbines PZL-Rzeszów GTD-350P delivering 294 kW

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	Poland	66
	North Korea	48
	Russia	43
	Algeria	22
	Myanmar	22
	Ukraine	10
	Azerbaijan	7
	Libya	7
	Armenia	3
	Syria	3
🇨🇩	Congo Democratic Republic	2
	Senegal	2
	Indonesia	1
	Moldova	1
	Peru	1