Brazil surprises with early Sabre retirement plan
AH-2 Sabre attack helicopter. (Photo: FAB)
The Brazilian Air Force did not specify why it is withdrawing its 12 Mi-35M attack helicopters from service, but several factors seem to have played a part.
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) High Command sprung a surprise on 10 February when it issued a document stating that its fleet of a dozen Mil Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters will be withdrawn from active service.
Defence analysts were taken aback by the announcement, given that the last three aircraft (designated AH-2 Sabre in Brazilian service) were delivered to the FAB as recently as 2014. Shephard Defence Insight gives an out-of-service date of 2050 for the helicopters.
The FAB withdrew the first AH-2s on 1 March with the process continuing until December 2022 — yet it gave no specific
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