There's a great article in today's New York Times about the strain on Syria's modest fleet of Mi-25 helicopters. Here is a great video clip summarizing the chopper's capabilities and weaknesses.
I did a little snooping on Wikipedia and was shocked at the number of conflicts this helicopter was used in:
- Ogaden War (1977-78). Ethiopia v. Somalia. Used by Ethiopia to expel Somali forces.
- Cambodian-Vietnamese War (1978). Used by Vietnam against Khmer Rouge.
- Chadian-Libyan conflict (1978-87). Used by Libya.
- Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979-89). Deadly threat until the U.S. gave the mujahideen fighters Stinger missiles.
- Iran-Iraq War (1980-88). Used by Iraq. Took part in only air-to-air helicopter battles against Iranian SeaCobras.
- Nicaraguan Civil War (1980-88). The Nicaraguan government received them to fight the U.S.-backed Contras.
- Sri Lankan Civil War (1987-2009). Used by the Indian peacekeeping force against the Tamil Tigers. Used by the Sri Lankan gov't as well.
- Persian Gulf War (1991). Used by Iraq in invading Kuwait. Also used by Iraq against its own people during post-Desert Storm uprisings.
- Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2002). Three choppers owned by Sierra Leone but piloted by South African mercenaries were used against rebels.
- Croatian war of independence (1990s). Used by the Croatian army against militias.
- First and second Chechnya wars (1990s-2000s). Two dozen Russian choppers were shot down or crashed.
- Cenepa War (1995). Used by Peru against Ecuador.
- Sudanese civil war (1995-2005).
- First and second Congo wars (1996-2003).
- Kosovo war (1998-99). Two Yugoslav choppers fought the KLA insurgents.
- Conflict in Macedonia (2001). Used against Albanian insurgents.
- Ivorian civil war (2002-04). All five destroyed by French in retaliation for an attack on a French base.
- Afghanistan war (2001-present). The Czechs donated six to Afghanistan. The Polish also use them there.
- Iraq war (2003-2010). The Polish use them there.
- War in Somalia (2006-09). Used by Ethiopia against Somali insurgents.
- War in Chad (2008).
- South Ossetia war (2008). Used by both Russia and Georgia.
- Libyan civil war (2011). Used by both sides.
- Ivorian crisis (2010-2011). Ukrainian choppers used in UN peacekeeping.
- Syrian civil war (2011-12). Pending.
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