Aircraft & UAVs

Mi-2

Also known as
  • Mil Mi-2
  • PZL-Swidnik Mi-2
  • Hoplite
  • Mi-2 Hoplite

The Mi-2, NATO reporting name Hoplite, is a Soviet-designed light utility helicopter produced in Poland by PZL-Swidnik. It moved the Mi-1 light-helicopter concept to twin turboshaft power, giving operators a compact transport, training, rescue, reconnaissance, and limited armed-support platform. Cataloged conflict evidence ranges from Soviet and Nagorno-Karabakh inventory context to Ukrainian loss and transfer records and Myanmar reporting on junta air attacks.

Mi-2, Light twin-turbine utility and training helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: File:Mil Mi-2 helicopter Nationaal Militair Museum 2019.jpg

Role in Conflicts

1979 Soviet-Afghan War
Mobility & Logistics
Side
Soviet Union and Afghan government forces

A study of Soviet airpower in Afghanistan cites Mi-2 Hoplites in the Soviet helicopter inventory in Afghanistan in 1986; the evidence supports Soviet fielding in theater, while specific Mi-2 mission tasking remains limited to light-helicopter support context.

2021 Myanmar Civil War
Fire SupportFrontline Assault
Side
State Administration Council and allied forces

Myanmar reporting citing former air-force captains says junta forces used Mi-2 assault helicopters, alongside other aircraft, in air attacks in Sagaing and Magwe after the 2021 coup.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union / Poland
Built in
Poland
Type
Light twin-turbine utility and training helicopter
Service note
Introduced in the 1960s; retained in small numbers by some post-Soviet and former Eastern Bloc operators
Designer
Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
Designed
Early 1960s; first prototype flight in September 1961
Produced
1960s-1990s
Number built
More than 5,300 reported in specialist reference and museum sources
Developed from
Mi-1

Specifications

Crew
2
Passenger or cargo capacity
Up to 8 passengers, 700 kg internal cargo, or 800 kg underslung load
Engines
Two Izotov GTD-350 turboshaft engines rated at about 330 kW each
Cruise speed
185 km/h typical cruise; 210 km/h high-speed cruise
Range
420 km operating range
Flight ceiling
3,800 m
Maximum takeoff weight
3,550 kg
Rotor diameter
14.5 m main rotor
Variants

Mi-2 designations cover transport, rescue, reconnaissance, armed-support, anti-tank, and later modernization branches of the same light helicopter family. Polish-built armed variants use suffixes such as US, URN, and URP to distinguish gun, rocket, and anti-tank configurations, while Mi-2MSB identifies a Ukrainian Motor Sich re-engining and avionics modernization.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Mi-2TMilitary transport variant

Military transport configuration within the Mi-2 family; Czech and specialist references describe the base helicopter's personnel, cargo, training, reconnaissance, and rescue roles.

Sources: Mil Mi-2 - NATO code: HOPLITE, Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data

Mi-2USGunship / armed support variant

Armed support configuration with a fixed 23 mm NS-23KM cannon on the port side, 7.62 mm gun pods on side pylons, and additional cabin-mounted machine guns.

Sources: Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data, Polish Aviation Museum WSK Mi-2URP

Mi-2URN ZmijaRocket-armed reconnaissance and close-support variant

Combat-support derivative using two Mars 2 launchers for S-5 57 mm unguided rockets instead of the Mi-2US pylon-mounted gun pods; Aviastar dates service entry to 1973.

Sources: Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data, Polish Aviation Museum WSK Mi-2URP

Mi-2URP SalamandraAnti-tank variant

Anti-tank configuration with outriggers for four 9M14M Malyutka wire-guided missiles and four additional missiles carried in the cargo compartment; Aviastar dates service entry to 1976.

Sources: Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data, Polish Aviation Museum WSK Mi-2URP

Mi-2URPG GniewoszAnti-tank / short-range air-defense derivative

Related Mi-2URP derivative fitted for four Gad launchers with 9M32 Strela-2 missiles in addition to the anti-tank configuration.

Sources: Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data, Polish Aviation Museum WSK Mi-2URP

Mi-2MSB / Mi-2MSB-WUkrainian re-engined modernization and armed demonstrator

Motor Sich modernization replacing GTD-350 engines with AI-450M engines and upgraded avionics; the armed Mi-2MSB-W demonstrator added weapon pylons for 80 mm rocket launchers, grenade-launcher pods, optional machine-gun pods, flares, and an infrared jammer.

Sources: Mi-2MSB - Ukrainian Combat Variant Of The Mi-2 Helicopter

Carried Missiles

Anti-tank Mi-2 variants turned the light utility airframe into a missile carrier, but the available catalog relationship source supports compatibility rather than a specific conflict-use claim.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
9M14 Malyutka, MCLOS wire-guided anti-tank guided missile, Infantry Weapons9M14 MalyutkaWire-guided anti-tank missile

Armatec lists the 9M14 Malyutka as a missile that can be fired from Mi-2 helicopters, and Polish museum material identifies Mi-2URP launch rails for 9M14M Malyutka missiles.

Sources: Armatec 9M14 Malyutka, Polish Aviation Museum WSK Mi-2URP

S-5 rocket, 57 mm unguided air-to-surface rocket, MunitionsS-5 rocket57 mm unguided rocket

Aviastar identifies the Mi-2URN as a combat-support and armed-reconnaissance version with two Mars 2 launchers for S-5 57 mm unguided rockets.

Sources: Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data

9M32 Strela-2 / SA-7 MANPADS, Man-portable surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense9M32 Strela-2 / SA-7 MANPADSShort-range infrared-guided missile

Aviastar and Polish museum material describe Mi-2URP-derived configurations tested or fitted with Strela-2/Gad missiles, including the Mi-2URPG derivative.

Sources: Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data, Polish Aviation Museum WSK Mi-2URP

Timeline

Mi-2 Key Events

  1. Mi-2 prototype flies

    The first Mi-2 prototype flew in September 1961 as a turbine-powered successor to the Mi-1.

    Sources: Mil Mi-2 - NATO code: HOPLITE, Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data

  2. Development and production move to Poland

    A 1964 agreement transferred further Mi-2 development, manufacture, and marketing to Poland, where PZL-Swidnik became the production center.

    Sources: Mil Mi-2 - NATO code: HOPLITE, Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data, Polish Aviation Museum WSK Mi-2URP

  3. First Polish-built Mi-2 flies

    Aviastar reports the first Polish-built Mi-2 flight on 4 November 1965, after an earlier Swidnik assembly flight from Russian-supplied parts.

    Sources: Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data, Polish Aviation Museum WSK Mi-2URP

  4. Mi-2URN rocket variant enters service

    The Mi-2URN armed reconnaissance and close-support configuration entered service with Mars 2 launchers for 57 mm S-5 rockets.

    Sources: Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data

  5. Mi-2URP anti-tank variant enters service

    The Mi-2URP Salamandra anti-tank configuration entered service with 9M14M Malyutka missile rails and internal reloads.

    Sources: Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data

  6. Mi-2MSB-W armed demonstrator reported

    Defence24 reported a Motor Sich Mi-2MSB armed configuration with AI-450M engines, weapon pylons, countermeasures, and planned Ukrainian National Guard interest.

    Sources: Mi-2MSB - Ukrainian Combat Variant Of The Mi-2 Helicopter

Media

Mi-2 Videos

Mi-2 Images

Mi-2, Light twin-turbine utility and training helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: File:Mi-2 Hoplite.JPG
Mi-2, Light twin-turbine utility and training helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: File:Mil Mi-2 Hoplite (7964796014).jpg
Related Weapon Systems
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Mi-14, Amphibious anti-submarine helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsMi-14Amphibious anti-submarine helicopterThe Mi-14 is a Soviet Mil/Kazan amphibious maritime helicopter derived from the Mi-8 but rebuilt around a boat-like hull, retractable landing gear, naval sensors, and anti-submarine, minesweeping, or search-and-rescue configurations. Its modern conflict record is narrow but direct: Ukrainian Naval Aviation lost a Mi-14PS during a May 2022 search-and-rescue mission in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, and Syrian government forces used Mi-14s for improvised mine and bombing roles in the Syrian Civil War.
Super Puma combat support helicopter, Twin-engine medium-lift utility helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSuper Puma combat support helicopterTwin-engine medium-lift utility helicopterThe Super Puma/Cougar combat-support family is a French twin-engine medium- and heavy-lift helicopter line built by Aerospatiale, Eurocopter, and Airbus Helicopters for tactical lift, casualty evacuation, search-and-rescue, special-operations, and utility missions. This family record covers AS332, AS532/H215M, H225, and H225M/EC725 Caracal branches, with conflict evidence ranging from Turkish, Spanish, Nigerian, French, and Ukrainian operation or transfer contexts.

Sources

Mil Mi-2 - NATO code: HOPLITEPublisher: Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic | Note: Supports Mi-2 background, Polish production transfer, roles, engine data, capacity, and basic specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Mil Mi-2 helicopter - development history, photos, technical dataPublisher: Aviastar | Note: Supports Mi-2 designation history, Polish production transfer, first Polish-built flight, transport and armed variant distinctions, and variant service-entry dates. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Polish Aviation Museum WSK Mi-2URPPublisher: Polish Aviation Museum | Note: Supports Polish Mi-2 production history, early Polish service, armed variant development, and Mi-2URP Malyutka armament details. | Accessed: 2026-07-02A Balancing Act or a Game Changer?Publisher: TRT World Research Centre | Note: Supports 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict direct fielded by context by comparing Azerbaijani and Armenian air forces in 2020 and listing Mi-2 helicopters in the conflict military-balance table. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Military-Defense Industrial Cooperation with TurkiyePublisher: Defence Turkey | Note: Supports background inventory context for Azerbaijan by listing PZL Mi-2 Hoplite helicopters among Azerbaijan Air and Air Defense Forces rotary-wing equipment. | Accessed: 2026-06-20List Of Aircraft Losses During The Russian Invasion Of UkrainePublisher: Oryx | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct fielded by and captured equipment context by listing Ukrainian Mi-2 training helicopters destroyed and captured during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Slovakia Supplies Mi-17, Mi-2 Helicopters, Ammunition for Grad MLRS to UkrainePublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transferred to and used by context by reporting Slovakia's Mi-2 donation and stating the supplied helicopters were already being used by Ukraine's armed forces. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Latvia Delivered Mi-17 and Mi-2 Helicopters to UkrainePublisher: European Pravda | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transferred to context by reporting Latvia's delivery of two Mi-2 helicopters to Ukraine's Air Force. | Accessed: 2026-07-02The Limits of Soviet AirpowerPublisher: Journal of Conflict Studies / University of New Brunswick | Note: Supports 1979 Soviet-Afghan War direct fielded by context by citing Mi-2 Hoplites in the Soviet helicopter inventory in Afghanistan in 1986. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Sky-High AtrocitiesPublisher: The Irrawaddy | Note: Supports 2021 Myanmar Civil War direct used by context by reporting Mi-2 assault helicopters among junta aircraft used in post-coup air attacks in Sagaing and Magwe. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Armatec 9M14 MalyutkaPublisher: Armatec | Note: Supports the Mi-2 as a helicopter launch platform for the 9M14 Malyutka. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Mi-2MSB - Ukrainian Combat Variant Of The Mi-2 HelicopterPublisher: Defence24 | Note: Supports Mi-2MSB and Mi-2MSB-W modernization details, including AI-450M engines, avionics upgrades, armament pylons, countermeasures, and proposed mission use. | Accessed: 2026-07-02File:Mil Mi-2 helicopter Nationaal Militair Museum 2019.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing for the primary Mi-2 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:Mi-2 Hoplite.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for an additional Mi-2 Hoplite gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:Mil Mi-2 Hoplite (7964796014).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY-SA 2.0 licensing for an additional Mi-2 Hoplite gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20