Tag #Army Aviation

How did the types of helicopters used and their effectiveness change throughout the Afghan War, and what factors influenced this?

The Afghan War significantly expanded the Soviet Army Aviation group from 112 to 331 helicopters, tripling its size. While the initial fleet included 52 Mi-24 attack helicopters, this number increased to 229 by war's end. The experience highlighted the limitations of Mi-24s in Afghanistan's mountainous terrain and hot climate, whereas Mi-8MT helicopters proved more effective due to their superior power, autonomy, and defensive systems.