The Mi-8 in Call of Duty is one of the most recognizable helicopters across the franchise. Known for its durability and versatility, the Soviet-designed Mi-8 and its variant, the Mi-17 “Hip,” serve as transport, utility, and combat helicopters in many campaigns and missions. They have been featured in multiple titles, from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) and Call of Duty: Mobile.
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Origins of the Mi-8 in Call of Duty
The Mil Mi-8 and Mi-17 are real-world Soviet helicopters designed for troop transport and utility operations. In Call of Duty, they are faithfully recreated to match their real-world purpose—airlifting troops, providing support, and extracting key figures during missions. These helicopters often appear on both sides of the conflict, used by Russian forces, Ultranationalists, and Loyalists.
Their recurring presence throughout the franchise highlights their importance as a military asset in both storytelling and gameplay.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
The Mi-8 makes its first appearance in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. It serves as a troop transport helicopter for enemy forces across several missions.
In “The Coup,” it appears during Al-Fulani’s execution scene, setting the tone for its frequent use throughout the campaign. During “Hunted,” Captain Price, Soap, Gaz, and Nikolai are pursued by Mi-8s after being shot down in Western Russia. In “War Pig” and “Heat,” the helicopters drop OpFor soldiers into battle, and players can destroy them using RPGs or M203 grenade launchers.
Two Loyalist Mi-8s appear in “Game Over” to rescue Captain Price and Soap after Zakhaev’s death. Players can even shoot down helicopters in several missions to reduce enemy reinforcements, making them both a threat and a tactical opportunity.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
In Modern Warfare 2, the Mi-8 is used throughout missions involving Russian forces. Unlike the first game, it can now be destroyed with a single M203 shot.
The helicopter drops troops in “Exodus,” and players can mark them as targets for the armored vehicle Honey Badger to shoot down. In “Contingency,” Mi-8s transport vehicles across the frozen landscape, while in “No Russian,” one is used by airport security.
A static Mi-8 can also be seen in the multiplayer map Highrise. In Special Ops missions such as “Suspension” and “Overwatch,” they appear dropping troops and can be destroyed by the AC-130’s guns, though they do not register heat signatures.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
The Mi-8 plays a significant role across several missions in Call of Duty: Black Ops.
In “Vorkuta,” Mason shoots one down with an improvised harpoon gun during his prison escape. Later in “Executive Order,” Mason and Woods avoid patrols of Mi-8s while infiltrating a launch site.
In “Numbers” and “Rebirth,” Mi-8s deploy enemy soldiers and patrol the skies above Dr. Clarke’s lab and the bioweapon facility. Hudson uses a Strela-3 launcher to destroy them. The “Double Whammy” achievement can be unlocked by downing two Mi-8s with a single rocket in “Redemption.”
In “Payback,” Mason and Woods shoot one down while piloting a Hind, and some Mi-8 gunships in this title even feature dual M60E4 turrets for added firepower.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The Mi-17 variant of the helicopter returns in Modern Warfare 3 and plays an active role in both the campaign and Survival Mode.
It drops Juggernauts during Survival Mode rounds and appears in several missions as a transport and assault craft. In “Turbulence,” Makarov’s forces use an Mi-17 to capture President Vorshevsky. In “Back on the Grid,” it carries chemical weapons, while in “Persona Non Grata” and “Bag and Drag,” Russian soldiers rappel from Mi-17s during urban combat.
During “Eye of the Storm,” Mi-17s transport BTR-80s through Prague until one is shot down by the Czech Resistance. Though they cannot be destroyed in Survival Mode, their presence adds a sense of urgency and scale to each encounter.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
In Black Ops II, the Mi-8 appears during the Afghanistan mission “Old Wounds.” These helicopters are equipped with desert camouflage and operate as part of the Soviet forces. Players encounter them as they engage enemy troops across the rugged terrain, maintaining the Mi-8’s reputation as a durable and reliable aircraft.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
The Mi-17 variant reappears briefly in Advanced Warfare during the mission “Fission.” It serves as an evacuation transport for KVA personnel after a nuclear power plant meltdown in Seattle. Although not a combat vehicle in this instance, it continues to symbolize military extraction and mobility.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
In the 2019 reboot of Modern Warfare, the Mi-8 returns with new visuals and roles. Barkov’s forces use both transport and gunship versions during the Invasion of Urzikstan. Russian Army Mi-8s are painted green, while Barkov’s personal helicopter features woodland camouflage.
They first appear in “Embedded” at a Russian airbase and are later seen during “Proxy War,” where two are destroyed by kamikaze drones. In “Hometown,” Mi-8s fly over Rizyabbi, while in “Going Dark,” one attacks Gaz and Price alongside Spetsnaz troops.
During “Into the Furnace,” Barkov attempts to escape in an Mi-8MTV-5, unaware that Farah is onboard. After his death, Nikolai pilots the same helicopter to extract her, closing the campaign on a dramatic note.
Call of Duty: Mobile
The Mi-8 also appears in Call of Duty: Mobile as part of the Highrise multiplayer map. It serves as a static background detail, staying true to its legacy within the Modern Warfare series.
Trivia and Gameplay Notes
- The Mi-8 and Mi-17 can carry up to eight troops.
- Many variants can be destroyed with RPGs or grenade launchers, though some missions disable this feature.
- The helicopter often deploys enemies via fast-roping or serves as extraction for allies.
- In Black Ops, certain Mi-8s are equipped with twin M60E4 turrets.
- Destroying Mi-8s can sometimes halt enemy reinforcements or trigger achievements.
The Mi-8’s Legacy in the Call of Duty Series
The Mi-8 in Call of Duty stands out as one of the franchise’s most frequently recurring vehicles. Its consistent appearance across campaigns, multiplayer maps, and even remastered versions shows how vital it is to portraying large-scale warfare.
From the tense chases of Modern Warfare to the chaotic shootouts of Black Ops, the Mi-8 has remained a symbol of military power and mobility. Its presence reinforces the realism of each battlefield, marking it as more than just background detail—it’s part of the series’ identity.
Final Takeaway
The Mi-8 has earned its place as one of the most iconic aircraft in Call of Duty history. Whether dropping soldiers into combat or extracting heroes from danger, its steady rotor blades have become a familiar sound across every major conflict in the series.
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