The Ivory Coast Air Force has acquired two Mi-24 ‘Hind’ attack helicopters to enhance it’s operations.
The first Hind attack helicopter was received on 7 August, arriving at Abidjan airport aboard a Ukrainian Air Force Il-76 transport aircraft.
The second helicopter will be delivered “within three months” time, says the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.
The two Mil Mi-24 “Hind” attack helicopters are most likely attrition replacement for two lost few months back.
According to a United Nations Register of Conventional Arms published on 2017, Ivory Coast received three Russian-made attack helicopters.
On 27 November 2019, an Mi-24D (TU-VHR) was lost after a collision with an Presidential Mi-17 serial TU-VHM that was parked on the ground at Katiola. The Mi-17 sustained slight damage and was repaired soon afterwards, while the Mi-24 was written off.
Incidentally, on 18 March, another Mi-24D (TU-VHO) crashed at Felix Houphouet Boigny airport in Abidjan. The Mi-24 helicopter was operated by the Escadrille de Chasse (attack squadron) based at Base Aérienne de Abidjan/Port Bouet.
The helicopter pilots sustained minor injuries, both left the crashed helicopter unaided, however, the Mi-24D was suffered significant damage.
The Ivorian military also took delivery of two Mi-17 second hand Mi-8P transport helicopters, which will be used for medical evacuation duties as part of the country’s mobilisation efforts against the Coronavirus epidemic.
The two helicopters (TU-VHL and TU-VHN) were delivered in mid-March.