The Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan has received into service its first multirole Mi-35M attack helicopters. The first helicopter was spotted in Almaty Airport.

At present Kazakhstan uses old Soviet Mi-24 helicopters. The multirole Mi-35M attack helicopter is a comprehensive modernisation of the Mi-24V. The Mi-35M was developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, and has been series produced at Rostvertol since 2005.

The Mi-35M offers round the clock:

• Combat use of guided and unguided weapons in regular and challenging climate conditions;
• Operational for attack flights at altitudes of 10-25 m daytime and 50 m at night over land or water.

For round-the-clock combat use, the Mi-35M is equipped with the latest navigation and avionics suite with multifunction coloured displays, target sights system that includes a thermal imager and TV channels, laser range finder and location finder.

The Mi-35M is distinguished by its improved construction. It is equipped with the latest Klimov-produced powerful VK-2500 turboshaft engines, fibreglass main rotor blades, main rotor head with elastomeric joints, a new swashplate and X-type tail rotor. The Mi-35M’s fuselage boasts shortened stub wings and fixed landing gear.

According to the to Flightglobal’s 2016 World Air Forces report, Kazakhstan presently operates 18 Mi-24 helicopters as well as 46 Mi-8 and Mi-17s. In 2016, Kazakhstan will receive from Russia four attack helicopters Mi-35M.