Mil Mi-14PL

The Mil Mi-14 (, NATO reporting name: Haze) is a Soviet shore-based nuclear-capable amphibious anti-submarine helicopter derived from the earlier Mi-8.

Design and development

Formal development of an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) version of the Mil Mi-8 transport helicopter was authorised by the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee and Council of Ministers in April 1965, with the objective of replacing the Mil Mi-4 in the short-range, shore based anti-submarine role. The new helicopter was required to have an endurance of 2 hours on station at a radius of from base.Mladenov ''Air International'' March 2001, pp. 184–186.

The new design (with the internal designation V-14) differed from the Mi-8 in having a boat-like hull similar to the Sea King, allowing it to operate off the water, and a retractable four-point undercarriage, with the mainwheels retracting into large sponsons on the rear of the fuselage. The helicopter was to be powered by two Klimov TV3-117MT turboshaft engines. A watertight weapons bay is fitted to the centreline of the fuselage allowing internal carriage of a single torpedo or eight depth charges, while a radome housing a search radar is fitted beneath the nose.Gunston 1995, p. 238.

The Mi-14 has a crew of four: a pilot, a copilot, an onboard technician, and a weapon system operator. The Mi-14PL anti-submarine version is equipped with a radar, a dipping sonar and a magnetic anomaly detector.

The first prototype V-14, converted from a Mi-8 and powered by the older and less powerful Klimov TV2-117 engines, flew on 1 August 1967. Development was slowed by problems with the helicopter's avionics and due to reliability problems with the TV3-117 engines, with production at Kazan not starting until 1973, and the helicopter (now designated Mi-14) entering service on 11 May 1976.

In January 2016, Russian Helicopters confirmed to Russian News Agency TASS that no final decision to revive production had been taken, but market demand, feasibility studies – including with Moscow's defence ministry – and funding sources were under review. The programme remains a “priority” for Russian Helicopters. The company suggested the Mi-14 would appeal to civil operators in Russia's far north and those supplying the oil and gas industry, alongside the nation's armed forces. Out of the almost 300 Mi-14s produced at Kazan Helicopters between 1973 and 1986, it is estimated that just 44 examples remain in active service.

Variants

;V-14
:Prototype of the Mi-14 helicopter.
;Mi-14PL (NATO Haze-A)
:Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, equipped with towed APM-60 MAD, OKA-2 sonobuoys and a retractable Type 12-M search radar, armed with either a single AT-1 or APR-2 torpedo, one ''Skat'' nuclear depth bomb or eight depth charges.Mladenov ''Air International'' March 2001, pp. 187–188. A single Mi-14PL was used to carry out trials with the Kh-23 (NATO designation AS-7 Kerry) air-to-surface missile but this modification does not seem to have entered service.Mlandenov ''Air International'' March 2001, p. 188.
;Mi-14PLM
:Improved anti-submarine warfare version with Os'minog ASW suite, with new search radar, dipping sonar and digital computer. Limited use.Mladenov ''Air International'' April 2001, p. 244.
;Mi-14PŁ/R
:Polish conversion of two Mi-14PŁ (Polish designation for Mi-14PL) to search and rescue version, with ASW equipment removed, developed in 2010.Adam Gołąbek, Andrzej Wrona, ''Śmigłowce Mi-14PŁ/R w służbie'', in: Lotnictwo Nr. 7/2011, pp. 40–47 (in Polish).
;Mi-14BT (NATO Haze-B)
:Mine sweeping helicopter with ASW systems removed and equipped for towing Mine Countermeasures sleds. 25–30 built, with six exported to East Germany and two to Bulgaria.
;Mi-14PS (NATO Haze-C)
:Search and rescue version with search lights and sliding doors with hoist.Mladenov ''Air International'' April 2001, p. 245.
;Mi-14PX
:Search and rescue training helicopter for the Polish Navy (unofficial designation). One Polish Mi-14PŁ helicopter was temporarily converted into the Mi-14PX, then converted back in 1996.
;Mi-14PZh

:Amphibious firebuster version of Mi-14BT.Mladenov ''Air International'' April 2001, p. 246. Conversion price about USD1M.
;Mi-14GP
:Conversion of Mi-14PL to 24–26 seat civil passenger transport.

Operational history

As part of the Syrian civil war, starting from 2013, Syrian Navy Mi-14 helicopters were used as improvised bombers to drop naval mines and barrel bombs on large area targets from high altitude, mostly cities held by opposing forces. On 22 March 2015, one crashed with its pilot killed on the spot after capture and the rest of the crew captured.

On 7 May 2022, Ukraine confirmed that Colonel Ihor Bedzay, the deputy head of the Ukrainian Navy, was killed when his Mi-14PS was shot down by a Russian Su-35. A video emerged, claimed shot on 7 May 2022, showing a Su-27 family fighter engaging a Mi-14 with its 30 mm gun.

Operators

By 1991, about 230 had been delivered, with exports to many Soviet allies including Bulgaria, Cuba, East Germany, Libya, Poland, and Syria.

Current operators

;
*Georgian Air Force

;
*Libyan Air Force

;
*Polish Navy
;
* Congolese Navy
;
*Syrian Air Force
*Syrian Navy

;
*Ukrainian Naval Aviation - operated by 10th Naval Aviation Brigade
;
* Yemen Air Force

Former operators

;
*Bulgarian Navy
;
*Cuban Air Force
;
* East German Navy
;
*Ethiopian Air Force
;
*German Navy
;
*Russian Naval Aviation
;
* People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Air Force
;
*Soviet Naval Aviation
;
*Yugoslav Air Force

* Pakistan Navy

Possible Operators

;
*Korean People's Army Air Force

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