Serbian defense minister says Russian helicopters like tanks

A ministry press release quoted Vulin as saying that the Serbian military will get completely new capabilities when the helicopters are delivered. “These are flying tanks, aircraft which are capable of defending our space, which can reinforce the country’s combat readiness. This is a huge change,” the minister said.  

Major Dobrosav Drndarevic, commander of the 714 anti-tank helicopter squadron flying out of Kraljevo said the Mi-35M is significantly different to the helicopters his pilots are used to flying. “One of the differences is the difference in equipment – a change from analogue to digital,” he said.  

The Mi-35M carries eight fully equipped and armed soldiers and has a crew of two. It is armored and armed with a 23 mm cannon and 80 mm missiles. It flies at speeds of up to 310 kmh with an operational ceiling of 5,400 meters and a standard range of 460 km which can be increased to more than 1,000 km with auxiliary fuel tanks.