Russian side and did not ask for the much

more advanced Hind J or its derivatives.

There was for sure the aspect of the

price, as the Hind J would have been more

expensive and so less of them would have

been supplied. But the main reason was

(according to some sources) that the

army did not want to enter a new type into

its inventory due to logistic reasons. And

more to it, there was a quite ambitious

plan for upgrades, which was to be

shared by the V4 states (Czech Republic,

Slovakia, Poland and Hungary). But the

plan collapsed and in effect it marked

the beginning of the end of the Hinds E

in the Czech army. Although a tough

attack and transport helicopter, it had

only the essential avionics to be allowed

to fly in the modern airspace of the 21st

century and would be sentenced to doom

in the modern battlefield, as it lacks all

the modern Defensive Avionics Systems

as well as target and data acquisition

systems.

In fact, the request for Hinds E supply was

quite a surprise for Russians because this

version was already out of production for

several years. But they finally fulfilled the

request, although rather peculiarly. The

airframes of the Hinds E supplied were

not newly manufactured, which is clearly

supported by the fact the serial numbers

were the continuation of the line of the

Hinds F supplied to Niger. The 3365 Hind

E, i.e., Mi-24V, even had a Mi-35P machine

data-plate. According to the author’s own

experience, that he got during his 2001

stay in the Rostov factory, where the

Hinds are produced, it was a common

practice for a Hind E to enter the general

overhaul to leave it as an Hind F.

Photo: author

HISTORY

Detail of the GPS antenna fitting developed in LOK.

Apart of the older Hinds E sold to AAL,

Czech Republic donated six of these

helicopters to Afghan government. In

the Afghan National Army, they got new

numbers 113 (originally 0836), 114 (0703),

115 (0816), 116 (0834), 117 (0838) and 118

(0812). During the general overhaul prior

to being sent to Afghanistan they received

the more powerful TV3-117VMA engines,

while all the GPS and identification

equipment was removed. VHF and UHF

radios were installed and the T-shaped

white antennae were placed on the top of

the tail boom (for the AT-160 COM1) and

on its bottom (AT-160 COM2). Probably the

most visible change was the installation

of the long tubular antenna of the HF

radio 10-389. It ran alongside the whole

tail boom on the starboard side. There

were also several other minor upgrades

and changes. These choppers served in

Afghanistan very reliably form the end of

November 2008 until their dischargement

in 2016.

April 2023

Photo: author

In the foreign services

Antennae of the APX-100 transponder were fitted behind the front wheel bay and on the top of the tail boom.

INFO Eduard

29