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Air ForcesRussia

Mi-8 (Hip)

Medium transport helicopterFielded 1967Pending verification

Also known as: Mi-8T

Air ForcesRUS
Mi-8 (Hip)
Photo: Andrey Butko · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeMedium transport helicopter
Alternative designationsMi-8T
Date of introduction1967
ProliferationAt least 64 countries
Crew3Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Wingspan2.5 m8 ftMed[1]
Height5.65 m19 ftMed[1]
Empty weight6,990 kg15,410 lbMed[1]
Flight performance
Engine2 x TV2-117Med[1]
Thrust / power1,482 hpMed[1]
Service ceiling4,500 m14,764 ftMed[1]
Rate of climb9 m/sMed[1]
Protection
Armor TypeBolt-onMed[1]
Heat Signature ReductionIR over engine exhaustsMed[1]
Add on ArmorAvailableMed[1]
NBC ProtectionYesMed[1]
Armament and payload
Hardpoints4 eaMed[1]
Door Mounted GunLoaded combat troops can fire personal weapons through windows from inside cabin.Med[1]
Wing Mounted Weapons: additional armament that can be equipped on the mi-8t2 x 7.62-mm Machine Guns or 1 x 12.7-mm Machine Gun; 4-6 x AT-2C Swatter or AT-3 Sagger ATGMs; 4-6 x 57-mm rocket pods (16 each); 2 x 80-mm rocket pods (20 each); 4 x 250-kg bombs; 2 x 500-kg bombs; 2 x 12.7-mm MG pod; 2 x Twin 23-mm gun pods; 1,830 liters…Med[1]
ArmamentUB-32 (rocket pod); S-5 RocketsMed[1]
Fire control
Weather RadarType 8A-813Med[1]
Navigation RadarDISS-32-90 Doppler navigation under tailboomMed[1]
Variants
Mi-8T (NATO – Hip-C)First mass production utility transport version, it can carry four UV-16-57 unguided rocket pods, (with S-5 rockets), mounted to four hardpoints on two outrigger pylons, and is armed with one or two side-mounted PK machine guns.[1]
Mi-8TVArmed version of the Mi-8T.[1]
Mi-8TVK (NATO – Hip-E, a.k.a. Mi-8TB)Version used as a gunship or direct air support platform. Airframe modifications add 2x external hard points for a total of 6, and mount a flexible 12.7 mm (0.5-inch) KV-4 machine gun in the nose.[1]
Mi-8TBK (NATO – Hip-F)Armed export version, fitted with six launch rails to carry and fire Malyutka missiles.[1]
Mi-8IV (NATO – Hip-G, a.k.a. Mi-9)Airborne command post version fitted with "Ivolga" system, characterized by antennas, and Doppler radar on tail boom.[1]
Mi-8PP (NATO – Hip-K)Airborne jamming platform with "Polye" (field) system. From 1980, the type was fitted with the new "Akatsiya" system and redesignated the Mi-8PPA. It is characterized by six "X"-shaped antennas on each side of the aft fuselage.[1]
Mi-8PDPolish airborne command post version.[1]
Mi-8SMV (NATO – Hip-J)Airborne jamming platform with "Smalta-V" system, characterized by two small boxes on each side of the fuselage. Used for protection of ground attack aircraft against enemy air defenses.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 2Confidence · Source
UB-32 (rocket pod)57 mm, reusable, 32-salvo rocket pod
Med[1]
Type
57 mm, reusable, 32-salvo rocket pod
S-5 RocketsRocket
Med[1]
Range
3–4 km2–2 mi · 2–2 nmi
Quantity
32 x S-5 Rockets per UB-32 Rocket Pod
Type
Rocket
Summary

Mi-8 (Hip) Russian Medium Transport Helicopter is a medium twin-turbine helicopter, originally designed by the Soviet Union, and now produced by Russia. In addition to its most common role as a transport helicopter, the Mi-8 is also used as an airborne command post, armed gunship, and reconnaissance platform.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
AfghanistanAngolaAlbaniaArmeniaAzerbaijanBurkina FasoBulgariaBosnia and HerzegovinaBelarusBhutanCanadaChinaRepublic of the CongoColombiaCubaCzech RepublicGermanyDjiboutiAlgeriaEgyptEritreaEthiopiaGeorgiaGuineaGuinea-BissauCroatiaIndonesiaIndiaIranIraqKazakhstanKyrgyzstanCambodiaLaosLibyaLithuaniaLatviaMoldovaMaldivesMexicoMaliMontenegroMongoliaMozambiqueNepalPakistanPeruPolandNorth KoreaRomaniaRussiaSudanSomaliaSerbiaSlovakiaSyriaTajikistanTurkmenistanTürkiyeUkraineUnited StatesUzbekistanVietnam
Sources
  1. Mi-8 (Hip) Russian Medium Transport Helicopter, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)