Ukraine returns unique electronic warfare helicopters to service

Ukrainian Air Force has returned two unique electronic warfare versions of Soviet-era Mi-8 helicopters to service.

On 21 December at the airfield of the Ozerne Air Base, during a solemn ceremony of transferring modernized and repaired weapons and military equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrainian Air Force has returned overhauled Mi-8MTPB and Mi-8MTPI electronic warfare helicopters to service.

Two unique electronic warfare versions of Soviet-era Mi-8 transport helicopter were overhauled at the SE”Konotop Aircraft Repair Plant “Aviakon”, part of UkrOboronProm.

The Mi-8MTPB is provided with long-range communication equipment and a radar, and it can carry equipment with phased-array antennas for suppression of enemy electronic attack and air defense facilities, such as airborne radars, air defense (artillery) weapons control radars, surveillance and target detection radars and missile radar homing heads.

The electronic countermeasure equipment can work both in the reconnaissance and electronic countermeasure modes or in the reconnaissance mode.

The Mi-8MTPI, as well as Mi-8MTPB, is an airborne jamming platform and communications intelligence platform, with a unique antenna array either side of the fuselage.

Both versions are quite rare and now there are only a few flying helicopters of this type in the world, including in Russia.