The Ukrainian Rangers have been spotted using a light tactical vehicle, Flyer 72-LD, which can be transported by a Mi-8 helicopter.

The press service of the 6th Ranger Regiment of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released the video of the new equipment.

The ultralight tactical vehicle Flyer 72-LD, which was developed for the US Army under the Ultra Light Combat Vehicle program, was spotted among the MaxxPro and Kirpi armored vehicles, as well as the infantry fighting vehicle of the 6th Regiment.

The delivery of these vehicles was not previously reported in official US military aid reports, but it could have come along with other equipment classified as specialized equipment for irregular warfare and reconnaissance.

The F72-LD was designed as a highly mobile airborne vehicle that could be transported by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, would have high mobility and the ability to carry up to nine crew members.

Considering these requirements, the vehicle weighs only 2,272 tons and can carry the same amount, reaching a maximum weight of 4.5 tons. This can be cargo or troops: the vehicle has been designed with various crew layouts so that it can transport up to five seriously wounded soldiers.

In addition to the payload, the vehicle can be equipped with hinged armor modules in the most critical projections in front of the crew, which provides local ballistic protection according to STANAG 4569 level one. It also has five mounting points for M240 machine guns and a roof mount for the M2 heavy machine gun.

Along with its high maneuverability, the vehicle’s key feature is its ability to be transported by helicopter. The Flyer 72-LD can carry UH-60 and CH-53 on the outer sling and CH-47 Chinook in the middle of the fuselage.

A Ukrainian army aviation officer and Mi-8 pilot shared with Militarnyi that due to its light weight and dimensions, this vehicle can also be lifted into the air by Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters. However, such an operation is one of the most difficult elements of aviation operations and requires serious training.

“We don’t have any problems with helicopters: they can be assigned to a task if we wish. The number of trained pilots is limited, but there are enough of them, especially mobilized civilian pilots, for whom handling cargo on a suspension is their bread and butter.

In fact, there are not many special requirements for the cargo. Its weight must meet not only the maximum value (from 3000 to 5000 kg) depending on the suspension system but also the flight task because every extra kilogram of weight is a kilogram of fuel that you will not have to deliver the cargo to its destination,” the pilot noted.

However, in addition to the helicopter and its crew, such a task also requires a trained team of ground personnel who can load the airborne equipment. These do not necessarily have to be airfield specialists, as the airborne equipment crew can be trained to do so.

Still, amphibious operations are often very risky, as the landing and unloading of equipment puts the troops and helicopter in an extremely vulnerable position to enemy artillery and drones. Therefore, the use of rangers for such tasks is unlikely.

“If you can deliver something on the ground, it is best to do it on the ground and use helicopters only when there is no other option (delivery of property across water obstacles, for example, without the possibility of pontoon crossings),” the Ukrainian pilot shared.

Militarnyi previously reported that Ukraine will become the first country to operate German Caracal airborne tactical vehicles from Rheinmetall.