In 1970, the Soviet Union introduced it's Mi-24 (Himd) helicopter gunship. Like the U.S. AH-1, the Mi-24 was a transport helicopter converted into a gunship. Unlike the AH-1, the Mi-24 retained some transport capability. The Mi-24 is a big, impressive looking beast (weighing more than twice as much as the AH-1.) It's been popular, with some 3000 built and limited production continuing. Recent buyers have been Mexico and Macedonia. Twenty nations still use some 1,500 Mi-24s.