The Mil Mi-24 (Russian: 8;L 8-24; NATO reporting name: Hind) is a large helicopter gunship, attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for eight passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and was introduced by the Soviet Air Force in 1972.
During the Cold War, NATO assigned reporting names to Soviet aircraft for identification purposes. The Mi-24 was given the name "Hind" as part of this system. The name "Hind" is derived from the name of a large, swift, and aggressive deer, reflecting the helicopter's formidable and aggressive nature.