PZL Mil Mi-2 URP - Completing the set of light helicopters? Possible future module?

[Avimimus]

I think it would be neat if Polychop kept specialising in light helicopters. They will have an American one and a Western European one, but we will still be missing an Eastern European counterpart. The only real opportunity to do this is the PZL Mil Mi-2.

Why the Mil Mi-2 is a worthwhile addition:

1) It is the closest Soviet equivalent to the light NATO helicopters (e.g. OH-58, Sa-342, Bo-105). Although it is slower at 210 km/h, with a lower disk loading, its payload and role put it in the lighter utility helicopter category (good for spotting, medivac gameplay etc.)

2) It is the next most produced Soviet helicopter at ~5500 examples (after the Mi-8 with ~17,000 built and the Mi-24 with ~2650).

3) It pioneered the twin turbine roof arrangement of the Mi-8 and Mi-24 (and other later Soviet helicopters). It is also cute.

4) The Polish variants (particularly the Mil Mi-2URP) have a remarkable armament including:

• Fixed forward firing 23mm cannon
• Flexibly mounted door guns
• Air-to-Air missiles (Strela)
• Rockets (up to 32 rockets)
• MCLOS anti-tank missiles (4xMalyutka-M ready to fire, four reloads in the cargo compartment).

Furthermore these weapons could be carried asymmetrically in the URP version - allowing up to three types of weapons to be carried at once (giving it a more varied armament than the Western light helicopters we are likely to get).

 

 

[GUFA]

I really do hope that a Mi-2 URP-G is done by somebody at least. But I do think PC are the team that will do it best.

+1

[Stratos]

That would be a dream come true!! @Avimimus do you have good pics of the version with the door gunner?

[Avimimus]

1 hour ago, Stratos said:

That would be a dream come true!! @Avimimus do you have good pics of the version with the door gunner?

 

The first photo in the thread actually shows one.

But here is the door gun position on the other side:

 

And the weapon system with additional forward firing guns:

I believe the four fixed forward firing machine guns precluded the carrying of rockets or missiles. However, the fixed forward firing cannon (and at least one door gun) can be carried with rockets and missiles.

 

Some info from: http://www.samolotypolskie.pl/samoloty/2284/126/PZL-Mi-22:

Mil Mi-2US (peaked at 30 examples) - Four fixed forward firing machineguns saw limited use prior to upgrading - but export to Burma in the 1990s. Typically upgraded to Mi-2URN (peaked at 28 examples, delivered from 1972) with 32 57mm rockets.

Mil Mi-2URP (peaked at 44 examples, delivered from 1975)- Eight anti-tank missiles, four ready to fire (five minute self-reload time). Upgraded to Mi-2 URP-G - URP with mixed armament of rockets and Strela air-to-air missiles.

Apparently most of these variants could be fitted with the 23mm cannon and the door guns (which are staggered).

 

Edited June 4, 2023 by Avimimus