Mil Mi-14 Haze

   In order to produce a replacement for a large numbers of Mi-4 Hounds in Soviet naval service, a version of the Mi-8 Hip with a boat-like hull was developed as the Mi-14 Haze. The prototype of the series, designated V-14, flew for the first time in 1973, to be followed by the initial production Mi-14PL Haze-A ASW helicopter.

   Improvements incorporated during production included more powerful engines and the switching of the tail rotor from the starboard to the port side for increased controllability.

   The latest Haze-A aircraft have revised equipment which includes a repositioned MAD system and are designated Mi-14PLM.

   From 1983, trials were carried out with the Mi-14BT Haze-B minesweeper. The helicopter has various airframe changes for its role and as primary equipment uses a towed mine sled. Although Mi-14BTs have been used on international mine-clearing operations, few were built. Russian forces prefer to use surface minesweepers, while some of the six BTs delivered to East Germany passed to the Luftwaffe as SAR helicopter, before emerging as civilian water bombers.

   The final production Haze variant was the Mi-14PS Haze-C SAR helicopter. Built primarily for the Russian naval aviation, Haze-C was also exported to Poland.

   A few non-standard Mi-14 versions and designations have also appeared. Mi-14PL Strike was a variant proposed for attack missions with AS-7 Kerry anti-ship missiles. Mi-14PW is the Polish designation for the Mi-14PL, while the Mi-14PX is one Polish Mi-14PL stripped of ASW gear and used for SAR training. Other Mi-14s have been converted for civilian use.