Country of Origin Russia 

Builder Mil 

Date of Introduction 1967 

Role Armed assault-transport 

Similar Aircraft Puma, Mi-2 Hoplite, Super Frelon 

Blades Main rotor: 5

Tail rotor: 3

Rotor diameter Main Rotor : 21.3 meters [70 ft]

Tail Rotor : 3.9 meters 

Length Length (rotors turning): 25.2 m

Length (fuselage): 18.2m [61 ft] 

Height 18 ft 6 in ( 5.65 m) 

Width 2.5 m 

Cargo Compartment  Floor Length: 5.3 m

Width: 2.3 m

Height: 1.8 m 

Weight Maximum Gross: 12,000 kg

Normal Takeoff: 11,100 kg

Empty: 6,990 kg 

Engine 2 TV2-117, 1482 hp each 

Maximum speed 230-250 km/h 

Cruising speed 122 kts (140 mph; 225 km/h) 

Range Maximum Load: 350 km

Normal Load: 460 km

With Aux Fuel: 950 km 

Fuel  Internal: 445 liters

Internal Aux Tank: 915 liters ea.

External Fuel Tank: 745 liters in port tank,

680 liters in starboard tank 

Service Ceiling Service: 4,500 meters

Hover (out of ground effect): 800 meters

Hover (in ground effect): 1,900 meters

Vertical Climb Rate 9 m/s 

Standard Payload HIP C: 24 troops, or 3,000 kg internal or external loads on 4x hardpoints.

HIP E: 24 troops, or 4,000 kg internal or 3,000 kg external on 6x hardpoints.

HIP J/K: antennas on aft section of fuselage.

Armament HIP E mounts a flexible 12.7-mm machinegun in the nose

2 - 7.62-mm or 1x 12.7-mm MG

4-6 - AT-2C Swatter or AT-3 Sagger ATGMs

4-6 - 57-mm rocket pods (16 each)

2 - 80-mm rocket pods (20 each)

4 - 250-kg bombs

2 - 500-kg bombs

2 - 12.7-mm MG pod

2 - Twin 23-mm gun pods

1,830 liters Additional fuel tanks

Loaded combat troops can fire personal weapons through windows from inside cabin.

Survivability/Countermeasures Main and tail rotor blades electrically deiced.

Infrared jammer, chaff and flares.

AVIONICS The Mi-8 is equipped with instruments and avionics allowing operation in day, night, and instrument meteorological conditions. 

Crew 3 (2x pilots, 1x flight engineer) 

Cost $900,000 (1991 used)

$3,200,000 (new) 

User Countries At least 54 countries -- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, CIS, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, Germany, Guyana, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Madagascar, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, North Yemen, People’s Republic of China, Slovakia, SouthYemen, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zambia