Hungary retires Soviet-era Mi-24 attack helicopters after nearly five decades of service

The Hungarian Armed Forces have formally ended the operational use of their Soviet-designed Mi-24 attack helicopters, closing a chapter that began in the late Cold War and reflects Budapest’s broader shift toward Western military equipment.

The withdrawal, completed in early February, was triggered by the expiration of the helicopters’ calendar-based service life. Although several aircraft remain technically operational, current legislation prohibits them from flying once their certified service period has lapsed, Caliber.Az quotes a report by SavunmaSanayiST.com. 

No official farewell ceremony was held, and the grounded helicopters have not yet been removed from military inventory records.

Service dating back to 1978

Hungary first introduced the Mi-24 into service in 1978. The initial phase saw the induction of the Mi-24D variant, with the first four helicopters of a 30-unit batch delivered from the Soviet Union on July 26 of that year.

In 1987–1988, Budapest ordered improved Mi-24W helicopters from the USSR. However, economic difficulties limited procurement to just 10 units of this upgraded version.

Following the end of the Cold War, Hungary further supplemented its fleet in 1995 by taking over used Mi-24 helicopters from the former East German army as a grant from Germany. The transfer included 14 Mi-24D and six Mi-24P helicopters, though only the Mi-24P variant entered active Hungarian service. Over the decades of operation, three Mi-24 helicopters were lost in accidents.

Downsizing and long-term grounding

A broader restructuring of the Hungarian military in 2004 led to a significant reduction in the helicopter fleet, consolidating it into a single group of 12 aircraft. Financial constraints soon hampered maintenance efforts, and by 2011–2012 all Mi-24s were towed into hangars.

After several years of inactivity, limited funding allowed for a partial reactivation of the fleet. However, the helicopters never regained their former operational prominence.

Their effective replacement began in 2019, when Hungary moved to modern Western platforms. Armed light Airbus H145M helicopters entered service between 2021 and 2024, gradually assuming roles previously filled by the aging Soviet-era aircraft. Given this transition, analysts consider it unlikely that the Mi-24 fleet will be reactivated under Hungarian colors.

Potential interest from Ukraine

The future of the grounded helicopters remains uncertain. It has been suggested that Ukraine could show interest in surplus Mi-24 airframes. Within NATO, Poland and Bulgaria are currently the only members that continue to operate the Mi-24 platform.

Hungary’s decision to retire the aircraft underscores a broader trend among Central and Eastern European states to phase out legacy Soviet systems in favor of NATO-compatible equipment, marking the definitive end of the Mi-24 era in Hungarian service after nearly 50 years.

By Sabina Mammadli