In early February 2026, the Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Légierő) officially retired Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters in the Mi-24P and Mi-24V versions from operational service.
The last live firing exercise with the type was conducted at the end of October 2025, marking the end of active flight operations for the iconic “Hind”.
After nearly five decades in service, the Mi-24 was more than just an attack helicopter: it became the backbone of Hungary’s rotary-wing combat capability. During its operational lifetime, it spanned from the Warsaw Pact era to NATO membership, undergoing several modernization programs and establishing itself as one of the longest-serving combat aircraft in Hungarian military history.
+ The world’s most powerful warship is headed for Iran
+ Kalashnikov plans historic expansion of civilian weapons production in 2026
+ Amanda Holden opens the doors to her mansion as she launches sofa collection
Arrival during the Cold War
The first Mi-24Ds arrived in Hungary in 1978 as part of the modernization of Warsaw Pact forces. The helicopters were quickly integrated into the air force and became the country’s main attack platform.
Over the years, several variants were introduced. The majority of the Mi-24D was withdrawn from active service in the early 1990s. In 1995, Budapest acquired about 20 additional examples from Germany — the Mi-24D and Mi-24P versions. Some of these were used for spare parts or placed in storage, while only some remained operational.
Fleet reduction and final modernization
In the late 1990s, structural cutbacks drastically reduced the number of operational helicopters, leaving between 12 and 20 airworthy units. Between 2010 and 2016, virtually all Mi-24s were temporarily grounded.
The type’s service life was extended through an extensive overhaul program conducted between 2017 and 2018. In late 2017, eight Mi-24Ps and Mi-24Vs were sent to the 419th Aircraft Repair Facility in Russia for a complete overhaul. The helicopters returned to Hungary in 2018 and resumed operations between late 2018 and 2019, with restored airworthiness and extended service life until 2025.
Historical base in Szolnok
The Mi-24 was originally introduced at the 86th Helicopter Regiment in Szolnok, a unit that played a central role as Hungary’s main combat helicopter force during the Cold War.
After the post-1990 restructurings, the unit was redesignated the 86th Helicopter Base and continued to operate the Mi-24 for the following decades. In 2004, seventeen Mi-24D/V/P were transferred to Szolnok Air Base after the closure of the Szentkirályszabadja base.
Within today Hungarian Defense Forces is named the unit MH Kiss József 86th Helicopter Brigade (Szolnok). The subunit responsible for the Mi-24P and Mi-24V was the Phoenix attack helicopter battalion.
The definitive retirement of the “Hind” closes a fundamental chapter in Hungarian military aviation history and marks the transition to a new phase in the modernization of the country’s rotating air fleet.
Källa och bilder: Hungarian Air Force | Instagram @magyar_honvedseg | Scramble.nl. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors.
