Thread by @DefenseNigeria

According to information gleamed from captured Boko Haram insurgents, the two aircafts that instilled the fear of God in them were the Triangle and Mi-35M. The Triangles have been out for a while (this hiatus will be short-lived) while the Mi-35M has picked up the mantle.

Important to note here that we are not talking of the Mi-24 Hind, which is deadly in its own right. We talking about the MI-35M, which is a comprehensive upgrade of the Mi-24, and brings to the battlefield a whole range of capabilities Boko Haram/ISWAP is not prepared for.

Its primarily designed for attack missions yet can insert 8 soldiers into the battlefield for follow up/mop up operations. Compared to the Mi-24, the "35M" delivers superior flight performance characteristics and manoeuvrability when compared to the Mi-24. Its not even close.

Notice unlike most helicopters (like the Agusta Power), Hind pilots someitmes attack below tree top levels with little regard for safety. This is because the cockpit and vital components are protected by titanium armour. They dont call them flying tanks for nothing.

Then Mi-35 characteristic stub wings have been shortened, but still retain their ability to carry large amounts of rockets and guided missiles.

But this is scarcely the reason insurgents would rather come under bombardment by Alpha jets than come face to face with the Mi-35.

NIGHT ATTACKS.

The Mi-35Ms avionics is on a different generation. The cockpit is night vision capable, with new and improved Multi Functional Displays. For this reason pilots prefer night time missions because, ironically they see better at night. The thermal imaging that is of little

..utility during the day becomes the pilots favourite toy at night. You cannot disguise body heat at night. Every warm blooded animal at night radiates heat that is picked up by the Mi-35 hundreds of 8 km away. This gives the Mi-35M the ability to engage in combat operations

at any time of the day, in all weather conditions. The Mi-35 was built to destroy enemy armoured vehicles and tanks. Anything else that is unfortunate enough to come in its way will do what frightened men suffering a panic attack do at war. Cry for their mom.

If you've come across images of the Boko Haram insurgents reduced to mush, that a water hose is required to flush out dead tissue, the dead insurgents just had an encounter with the Mi-35M. A very unforgiving aircraft.

Reminds me of the American Hellfire missiles that has a sharp sword instead of an explosive warhead.

The MI-35M is armed with 80mm rockets and Ataka anti-tank guided missiles with a range of up to 8 kilometres, giving it the perfect ability to reach out and touch a ‘friend’.

Then the twin-barrelled 23mm gun. One has to be extremely unlucky to be on the receiving end of the gun.

Helicopters like the Mi-35M is what the Army Aviation needs for more modern combat helicopters. They should form the backbone of the Nigerian Army's attack helicopter wing. No need for shenanigans trying to make compromises for kickbacks. Its that simple

Contemplate Nigerian troops carrying the ability of the MI-35M into battle. Riding shotgun, the helicopter can be used to insert Special Forces personnel onto dominating heights in from where they can provide vital surveillance on surrounding.

areas or provide covering fire to other elements manoeuvring in the valleys below instead of raidoing for air support from aircafts based in bases hundreds of kilometres away.

The insurgency is in its 12th year, and unlike most countries, Boko Haram/ISWAP has been unable to bring their reign of terror down South. Its not luck. They do try. Air Power is reason they hide and attack targets of opportunity than risk getitng caught in the open

Tuareg rebels in Mali were able to overrun the country and occupy half of Mali because of the absence of air power. If they do that in Nigeria they will be picked apart piece by piece by Nigeria's air power.