OPERATION MOUNT HOPE HOW THE CIA STOLE A RUSSIAN HIND GUNSHIP IN THE DEA...

1987 - 1988
An opportunity for such a look finally presented itself in the form of the discovery of a Libyan Mi-25 left behind in Chadian territory in 1987. In April 1987, a retreating, fully armed Libyan Air Force Mi-25 was captured by French and Chadian military troops after the crew abandoned the helicopter. The Hind was put in storage in Ouadi Doum. The CIA, after confirming that such a helicopter did indeed exist at that particular location, quickly set its sights on recovering the helicopter. They decided to do it through covert operation.