A Togolese armed forces Mi-35 attack helicopter taking part in a counterinsurgency operation in the north crashed on 4 April.
The helicopter is said to have crashed in northern Togo while fighting insurgents on 4 April 2024. There were no fatalities but many crew members were injured and were hospitalized. The helicopter was destroyed.
The aircraft, which took off from the Nioukpourma camp near Dapaong, was carrying weapons and ammunition to supply units in the Kpendjal region. Fifteen minutes into the flight, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing inside the camp.
Amateur footage showed thick black smoke billowing over the military base, followed by a series of explosions that completely destroyed the helicopter.
Witnesses said several injured soldiers were taken by ambulance from the camp to the Dapaong Regional Hospital Centre (CHR) on the afternoon of 4 April.
Togo acquired three Mi-35M combat helicopters and two Mi-17 transport helicopters in early November 2022 from Russia.
The Mi-35M is a multirole combat helicopter manufactured by Rostvertol, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters. It is an export variant of Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter.
The helicopter is primarily designed for attack and military transport missions, the helicopter offers a more superior flight performance and manoeuvrability compared to its predecessor.
A large part of helicopters used in various African militaries are Russian-made.
According to open data from the Russian Helicopters holding company (late 2019), more than 900 helicopters made in Russia and the USSR are registered in African countries. When it comes to military equipment, the share of Russian helicopters reaches about 40%.
Russian-made helicopters have indeed made significant inroads on the African continent. The most prevalent Russian-made helicopters in Africa belong to the world-famous Mi-8/17 and Mi-24/35 helicopter family, with various modifications. Over 250 of them are Mi-24/35 helicopters.
However, experts said the potential causes of the helicopter crashes of Russian origin, may likely be caused by factors such as unauthorized maintenance, low-quality spare parts, and inadequate pilot training.