The Hungarian Air Force last week decommissioned the fleet of Soviet Mi-8T helicopters that entered service in 1969. Helicopters of this model were called the "workhorse" of the country's military aviation.

The last helicopter flight with registration number 3304 took place on 26 March from the Szolnok airbase. The day before, another pair of light and replacement multipurpose H145Ms was delivered to the same airport. These were the last of 20 helicopters ordered at the end of 2018 for 318 million euros.

Hungary reportedly acquired a total of 65 Mi-8Ts, 15 of which were transferred in 1969-1970, 43 from 1970 to 1975 and 2 in 1982. Finland donated two more helicopters to her in 2011, and in 2014 bought three refurbished copies from Russia. The last operated Mi-8T was purchased from the Russian Federation 7 years ago.

In addition to the Mi-8T, deliveries were made to Hungary in the 1980s of one command post Mi-9, 7 Mi-17 (of which 2 were in the electronic warfare version, decommissioned several years ago). As of today, there are 5 Mi-17s in operation, which underwent a major overhaul in 2017. They will be gradually decommissioned in 2024-2025.

The upcoming plans include replacing the Mi-17 with French twin-engined multipurpose medium-class Airbus Helicopters H225M helicopters (previously designated EC725 Caracal). In December 2018, a contract was signed for the supply of 16 copies, the first of which should arrive in 2023.