The Mi-2, NATO code name 'Hoplite', was developed in the early 1960's by the Mil bureau as a turbine-powered version of the Mi-1 Hare. The recently development of the shaft-turbine engine revolutionized the design of the helicopter. The twin turbines develop 40% more power than the Mi-1's piston engine for barely half the dry weight, more than doubling the payload.

The fuselage of the Mi-2 greatly differs from that of the Mi-1, carrying the engines above the cabin but the overall dimensions of the two models remain closely similar.
The Mi-2 was flown in 1962, but never put into production in the Soviet Union. Instead responsibility for the type was assigned to WSK-Swidnik (now PZL) to Poland as part of a eastern Europe Comecon rationalization programme, becoming the only Soviet-designed helicopter to be built solely outside the Soviet Union.
Production in Poland started in 1965 and in the 90s, PZL factory introduces a new variant: W-3.

8 passenger utility helicopter

Rotor diameter: 14.56 m
Length: 12 m
Height: 3.75 m
Disc area: 160 m2

Weights: empty: 2370 kgs, Max: 3700 Kgs, slung load: 800 kgs.

Engine: 2 Isotov GTD-350 of 431 shp

Speed: Max: 210 km/h
Range: 340 km
Service Ceiling: 4000 m