Early delivery of Arctic helicopters

The new type Mil Mi-8AMTSh-VA military helicopter for expluatation in Arctic Zone for Rusian Airforce is at Ulan-Ude Vostochny airport. Russia. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)

Russian Helicopters in early July reported having transferred two Mil Mi-8ATMSh-VA medium multirole helicopters to the Russian Defense Ministry ahead of schedule. The aircraft are intended for use in the Arctic by the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Deliveries of this Mi-8 version have continued for over two years now; the first example was handed over to the Defense Ministry in November 2015. Several more of the type have since been delivered to the Russian military, including for the Navy.

The first navalized Mi-8AMTSh-VA was built in November 2016.

The Arctic modification is based on the Mi-8AMTSh-V variant, which differs from the other members of the Mi-8/17/171 family in its more powerful Klimov VK-2500-03 turboshaft engines. With its enhanced cabin insulation and heating system for the powerplants and transmission, the Mi-8AMTSh-VA can operate at -60°C.

Because of the relatively low number of bases in the Russian north, the helicopter’s range was extended to 1,400 kilometers. The PKV-8 autopilot makes navigation much simpler. It is equipped with an inertial navigation system in case of satellite signal loss.

By Valentin Makov