Once a Russian Mil Mi-24 Hind Attack helicopter was painted in US Coast Guard colors. Here’s why.

Once a Russian Mil Mi-24 Hind Attack helicopter was painted in US Coast Guard colors. Here’s why.

By Dario Leone
Nov 21 2022
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The Hind has been sold to 40 countries and, no it’s not a joke, the photos in this post feature a Mi-24 attack helicopter in US Coast Guard colors.

The Mi-24 (NATO reporting name: Hind) attack / transport helicopter was developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters.

Hind USCG

The development of the aircraft commenced in the first half of the 1960s using a dynamical set, drive units and other components from the Mi-8 helicopter. The first prototype, with late TV2-117 engines, took off in September 1969.

It entered service with the Soviet Union in the late 1970s and since then more than 3,500 Mi-24 helicopters have been produced and it has been used in more than 40 wars and conflicts including Afghanistan and in Chechnya.

Mi-24 Hind USCG

The Hind has been sold to 40 countries and, no it’s not a joke, the photos in this post feature a Mi-24V (NATO reporting name: Hind-E) attack helicopter in US Coast Guard (USCG) colors.

The Hind in fact was painted in USCG colors to play the role of an American Search and Rescue (or maybe Search and Destroy) helicopter in the Russian movie “Charged with Death” (original title Zarjazhennye smertyu).

USCG Hind

Loaded with Death is a 1991 (filmed 1990) action movie directed by Vladimir Plotnikov. A group of escaped criminals hijacks a Russian fishing vessel “Udachlivy” (“Lucky”) in the waters of North Pacific. A Soviet Border Guard patrol ship “Yuri Andropov” and US Coast Guard helicopter make a joint operation to release the vessel. What neither criminals, nor border guards know is that the fisherman is loaded with smuggled drugs, and the American drug lord goes on his fast boat to get the drugs from “Udachlivy”.

The Mi-24V appears as a USCG helicopter (most likely used due to play the role of the then newly introduced Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk). It is piloted by Jerry Ranklin (Vladimir Antonik) and Ray (Anatoly Vedyonkin).

USCG Mi-24

Still, the Hind looks cool in its Coastie colors, don’t you think?

USCG Mil Mi-24 Hind

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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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