Mi 24 Hind in Sri Lankan service

[Royal]

AFAIK the Sri Lanka Air Force operates a mixture of Mi-24/-35P and Mi-24V/-35 (which are basically Hind D & E export models) - correct me if I'm wrong.

What sort of night flying capability do these birds have?

[SouthernCross]

As far as I know, since the 90's Rostvertol has been carrying modernization packages on these birds, which regarding night flying capabilities consists on adapted instruments, cabin and illumination sistems for night vision goggles usage and upgrading of surveillance and fire control systems with infrared, tv and lasers for target detection and identification.

[D.U.C.K.S.]

To put it simply... none. Officials of SLAF admitted recently they got no night vision capability with any type in SLAF inventory and that Sri Lankan pilots are not equipped with NVGs at all. This raised concerns about SLAF having no type to counter attacks of Tamil Z-142s performed at night. The only type with very limited NV capability was said to be K-8S Karakorum, whatever the very limited capability might mean.

The pictures of SLAF Mi-35 Hinds recently overhauled in Czech Republic reveal grey painted instrument panel and dull blue/green cockpit walls. Thart indicates lack of any NVG compatible lighting, ergo, goggles are out of question.

[sjinadasa]

No actually Following the LTTE aerial attack on KAB, SLAF bombers and helicopter gunships were put to the test with several night mission assignments. Mi-24 (hind) Gunships and Kfir fighter jets were used to attack LTTE targets in northern province at around 1am and 4 am in the morning.

http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2007/04/slaf-conducts-night-missions.html

yeah, its a blogspot site, but it is rather trustworthy.

[Royal]

No actually Following the LTTE aerial attack on KAB, SLAF bombers and helicopter gunships were put to the test with several night mission assignments. Mi-24 (hind) Gunships and Kfir fighter jets were used to attack LTTE targets in northern province at around 1am and 4 am in the morning.

http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2007/04/slaf-conducts-night-missions.html

yeah, its a blogspot site, but it is rather trustworthy.

Cheers, I knew the Kfirs and so on had a capability. Are you in Sri Lanka? Do you know what happened with the Hind that crashed the night of the last LTTE raid on Colombo?

[sjinadasa]

It didn't "Crash" literary There were some techinical problems and they were forced to perform a crash landing, and no one was hurt. And the Hind will probably be back in service soon. (2-4 weeks) And yeah Im in SL.

[Royal]

"any helecopter landing is a controlled crash - some are more controlled than others"

That was from a pilot who came in a bit harder than I'd have liked, but point taken. What do you do out there (PM me if you don't want to discuss)?