Mi-2. Military versions

Despite the fact that 50 years have passed, the Mi-2 is still the main type of light helicopters in the Polish Army. The Mi-2URP-G trains a new generation of young pilots in fire support missions. Photo by Milos Rusecki

In August 2016, the 2nd anniversary of serial production of the Mi-2 helicopter at WSK Świdnik passed unnoticed. This year, the Mi-XNUMX helicopter, which is in service with the Polish Army, is celebrating its golden anniversary.

These aircraft must bridge the gap between advanced jet platforms such as multirole fighters and attack helicopters and unmanned aircraft. Their main task will be the direct support of ground forces, reconnaissance and target recognition, as well as the coordination of air attacks and airspace control.

The United States Air Force (US Air Force, USAF) is now faced with the situation that they faced at the beginning of the war in Southeast Asia in the early 1s. Then it was quickly realized that the use of jet fighter-bombers in counter-insurgency operations was pointless. There was a shortage of inexpensive light attack aircraft that could support ground forces from field airfields located near combat zones. The US Air Force's Cessna O-2 Bird Dog and O-XNUMX Skymaster light reconnaissance aircraft were not suitable for the role.

In the early sixties, two programs were launched: the Battle Dragon and LARA (Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft). As part of the first, the Air Force adopted an armed version of the Cessna T-37 Tweet trainer aircraft, called the A-37 Dragonfly. The United States Marine Corps (US Navy, USN) and the United States Marine Corps are also involved in the construction of the Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft (LARA). Thanks to the LARA program, the Rockwell International OV-10 Bronco twin-engine propeller aircraft entered service with all three military branches. Both the A-37 and OV-10 were used successfully in combat during the Vietnam War. Both of these designs also had great export success.

Modern operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are in many ways similar to those conducted half a century ago in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Aviation operates in completely dominant airspace against an enemy with no advanced or practically no ground-to-air weapons. The purpose of aviation operations is primarily the enemy’s manpower, single fighters / terrorists, small groupings of troops, points of concentration and resistance, ammunition depots, cars, supply routes and communications. These are the so-called soft targets. The air force must also provide ground troops in combat contact with the enemy, close air support (Close Air Support, CAS).