Mi-8AMTSh

This page is about the Soviet attack helicopter Mi-8AMTSh. For other versions, see Mi-8 (Family).

Mi-8AMTSh

Mi-8AMTSh

Description

The Mi-8AMTSh is a rank Soviet attack helicopter with a battle rating of (AB), (RB), and (SB). It was introduced in Update "Kings of Battle".

General info

Flight performance

Describe how the helicopter behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at _,___ m)		Max altitude (metres)
	AB	RB
Stock	___	___
Upgraded	___	___

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the helicopter. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical systems.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Mi-8AMTSh is armed with:

• 1 x 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, nose turret (1,750 rpg)
• 128 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The Mi-8AMTSh can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

Default weapon presets

2 x 12.7 mm YaK-B machine guns (750 rpg = 1,500 total) + 4 x 7.62 mm GShG-7.62 machine guns (1,800 rpg = 7,200 total) 6 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg = 1,500 total) 4 x 9M39 Igla missiles 8 x 9M39 Igla missiles 8 x 9M114 Shturm missiles 4 x 9M114 Shturm missiles + 80 x S-8KO rockets 120 x S-8KO rockets 6 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (600 kg total) 6 x 250 kg FAB-250M-62 bombs (1,500 kg total) 2 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (1,000 kg total) 2 x 500 kg ZB-500 incendiary bombs

Usage in battles

With the Mi-8AMTSh recieving better long ranged armament, countermeasures, and a ballistics computer, along with an engine upgrade, the Mi-8AMTSh is a good support helicopter to go along in your lineup.

In Ground RB, the Mi-8AMTSh is effective for both stand off engagements and rushing into the battle first spawn. The Mi-8AMTSh can carry up to 120x S-8K rockets, which are effective with dealing any armored targets when launching them in salvos, along with the added ballistics computer, hitting accurate shots from distances is easier to do with rockets. The uprated engines also allow it to pick up speeds quicker and is less prone to stalling its engines. The Mi-8 is a big helicopter overall, with the design originally being a transport helicopter. Mobility will still be mediocre and multiple machine gun and autocannon fire will easily defeat the Mi-8, along with being prone to pilot snipes.

For standoff engagements, the outermost pylons can take up to 4x 9M114 Shturm ATGMs on each pylon, for a total of 8x ATGMs which are good for dealing damage against ground targets overall from a distance. Prioritize SPAAs and Anti Air that are trying to target you. For defending against air targets, you can equip up to 4x 9M39 Igla missiles on the middle pylons, for a total up to 8x Igla missiles. These missiles are very flare resistant, but are more suited to deal with helicopters, though they can still take down air targets, despite its manueverability being subpar. The best way to use them is to catch the enemy off guard in their attack run or in their low energy state at a medium range distance. If the aircraft does spot you, try to use the Iglas to ward them off and deter them from attacking you, or for you to get a better launch angle. It is ideal to bring a GUV-8700 gunpod or GSh-23L to deal with air targets overall, as the single PKT is not ideal for engaging jets.

The Mi-8AMTSh does lack HIRSS, RWR and IRCM Dazzler than its Mi-24 cousins so be on the look out for any anti aircraft vehicles that are trying to target you. Without HIRSS, heat seeking missiles will have an easier time locking you on, along with radar missile systems not giving a lock warning due to the lack of RWR. It is best to preflare when dealing with heat seaking anti-air over the battlefield

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Better, powerful uprated engines over the previous variant. Higher top speed
• Access to 128x countermeasures
• Improved, versatile armament than its predecessor
• Access to ballistics computer
• Access up to 8x 9114M Shturm missiles that can be fired up to 5 km away
• Access up to 8x 9M39 Igla missiles, good for dealing against helicopters and slow aircrafts
• GUV-8700 and GSh-23L gunpod offer extra firepower.

Cons:

• Lacks RWR, HIRSS and IRCM Dazzler unlike its Mi-24 cousins
• Downgraded to 7.62mm PKT for machine gun. Subpar for dealing with targets overall
• Big recognizable profile
• Sluggish mobility when manuevering
• Crew closely grouped together
• ATGM firing angle is slightly akward. Have to pitch nose down slightly if in a hover to launch
• Lacks Thermals and NVD for the gunner

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the helicopter in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the helicopter;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

USSR helicopters
Attack
Hound	Mi-4AV
Hip	Mi-8AMTSh · Mi-8AMTSh-VN · Mi-8TV
Hind	Mi-24A · ▂Mi-24D · Mi-24P · Mi-24V · Mi-35M
Havoc	Mi-28N · Mi-28NM
Helix	Ka-29
Hokum	Ka-50 · Ka-52