Mil Mi-8MTV-5-1 the Flying Dolphins of Russian Air Force

S TO RY BY B A B A K TAG H VA E E

52 HELIOPS FRONTLINE

25 RED is a Mi-8MTV-5-1 from 549th Air Group of Russian Air Force. 549th Air Group or Army Aviation Base and its two detachments in Pribylovo and Levashovo became the first units of Russian Air Force to receive serial produced Mi-8MTV-5-1s in 2011. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov)

HELIOPS FRONTLINE 53

Russian Air Force’s Mi-8MTV-5-1 during openwater competition for pontoon bridge units in Murom, Russia, as a part of International ARMY-2016 games on August 6. (Photo by 54 HELIOPS FRONTLINE Gennadiy Dudishkin/ Russian MOD)

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i-8MTV-5-1-1 is one of two members of Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter families which is widely in use by the Army Aviation units of Russian Air Force since 2012. A product of Joint Stock Company Kazan Helicopters, this multirole medium sized helicopter is now backbone of the Russian Army Aviation transport helicopter fleet. Once the helicopter passed all of its state tests in Torzhok and other air bases, the Russian Ministry of Defense placed an order for 140 examples of that alongside with 134 Mi-8AMTSh were for use by Russian Air Force on 1st March 2011. Deliveries started in 2012 and by June 2017, total 100 out of 140 ordered examples were handed over Russian Air Force’s Army Aviation Units across the country. This article tells you how this helicopter has gradually took place of ageing Mi-8Ts and Mi-8MTs of Russian Air Force over the past five years and will let you know more about its operational and technical capabilities.

TOP: One of four Mi-8MTV-5-1s of 549th Army Aviation Base at Levashovo Air Base. They are stationed there to be used mainly for Search and Rescue and Transport duties since 2016. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov) BOTTOM: Mi-8AMTSh has only slight differences with Mi-8MTV-5-1 which is a mount for installation of powerful searchlight under the nose for night SAR missions. It has also slight difference with Mi-8MTV-5-1 in its electronical systems. (Photo by Savistky Vadim/ Russian MOD)

BACKGROUND Before Soviet Union collapse, it was planned to replace all of the Mi-8s across the country with a more modern and capable medium transport helicopter named Mi-8M which was later renamed as Mi-38 in 1990’s. Mil OKB was contracted by the Soviet Union Ministry of Defense to work on the new helicopter on 30th July 1981. Mi-38 development was delayed due to financial problems and finally it lost its public funding on 18th December 1992 forcing its developer and designer, the Kazan Helicopter Plant to approach European company Eurocopter to restart the project after formation of Euromil consortium in 1994. The Russian Air Force lost interest in the Mi-38 after USSR Collapse but instead the Kazan plant launched various projects for modernization of the Mil Mi-8 helicopter to meet the needs of the Russian Air Force in 2000’s. The Mi-8MTV-1 equipped with powerful TV3-117VM turboshaft engines which was developed on basis of lessons learnt from weaknesses of Mi-8T and Mi-8MT helicopters equipped with weaker TV2-117A and TV3-117MT engines during Afghanistan war. Mi-8MTV-1 which had been manufactured by Kazan


Mi-8MTV-5-1s of Russian Air Force’s 549th Army Aviation Base with 12 and 14 RED side numbers during an exercise while both are equipped with B-8V20 rocket pods. (Photo by Andrei Zinchuk/ Russian MOD)



Mi-8MTV-5-1 large side doors are providing fast-roping capability for airborne troops. Here the 36 RED/ RF-90673 from Kursk demonstrate this capability during ARMY-2016. (Russian Helicopters official photo)

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(No.387) helicopter manufacturing plant since 1988, was chosen as platform for development of new medium sized transport helicopter for military use. Mi-8MTV-2 another derivative of the Mi-8MTV entered the Kazan plant manufacturing line only a year before the USSR collapse. Furthermore, having enhanced armour protection and upgraded avionic systems such as new radio in comparison with MTV-1, its cargo hold had space and seats for 30 troops instead of 24. This helicopter was selected as platform for development of new member of Mi-8 helicopters family for use by the Russian Air Force in early 1990’s. The new Mi-8 helicopter variant, named as Mi-17MD was planned to have improved flight and operational characteristics, more reliability for operations in all weather conditions. Mi-17MD was equipped with a SLG-300 retractable hoist beside its left side door which was also more widened for SAR ops. The hoist had capability to pick up two persons during SAR missions. It had a second front-entry door located in right side which caused displacement of its KO-50 on-board heater from front side of its right fuel tank to above the new side door. It was also equipped with three-piece aft cargo door with square shaped empennage with a lower part retractable via hydraulically operated actuators. First Mi-17MD prototype was manufactured from a Mi-8MTV-GA prototype first flown in 1994 which was actually a Mi-17M prototype with CCCP-95448 register before manufactured in 1991. With RA-70937 civil register, the Mi-17MD was for first time unveiled to public during 36th Paris Air Show in June 1995 and quickly after that in August during MAKS 95 airshow and then Farnborough Air Show of 1996. In 1997, the prototype was equipped with new one-piece hydraulically operated ramp door also its Electro-Optical system or FLIR camera installed under its nose was removed. In this new form, the RA-70937 while was painted in Russian Air Force colors was unveiled to public for first time in August 1997 during Moscow Air Show or MAKS 97.

Mi-17V-5 V prototype with 742 BLACK side number was demonstrated by Kazan Helicopters during ARMY-2017. (Photo by Babak Taghvaee)

One of four Mi-8MTV5-1s of 549th Army Aviation Base detached to the Levashovo airport. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov)

L370-5 (a.k.a PRESIDENT-S) DIRCM which is proposed to be installed on Mi-8MTV-5-1 V the upgraded version of Mi-8MTV-5-1. (Photo by Babak Taghvaee)

Not all of Mi-8MTV-5-1s are in two tone olive camouflage some of them including this one with 23 WHITE side number are in overall gunship grey camo. This one belongs to 15th Army Aviation Base. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov)



549th Army Aviation Base’s Mi-8MTV-5-1 with 23 RED side number can be seen flying near Levashovo in harsh weather. It has No Mushroom-Shaped Dust protection Device on its engine air intakes because the area of its operarions in Saint Petersburg Oblast. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov)


Mi-8MTV-5-1 hasn’t capability of carrying large rescue searchlight under its nose like Mi-8AMTSh, but it has NVG compatible instrumentation with Green dim light for night flights. (Pictures by Sergey Kuznetsov)


The Mi-17MD prototype later received two new designated names, Mi-8MTV-5 and Mi-17V-5 (export name) and publicly presented with these names during MAKS 2001. This helicopter which was finally named Mi-17V-5 was heavily damaged in an accident during a presentation in Chile on 4th June 2002. Two years before production of Mi-8MTV-5 was launched in Kazan plant after start of design and manufacture of new jig and fixtures and special tools for production of its new parts. At same time a further series of improvements happened in the Mi-8MTV-5 design such as a new stretched “dolphin” nose or radome to house a larger and more capable weather radar instead of smaller and older chinmounted radome of Mi-8MTV-1.

Two of Mi-8MTV-5-1s under production for Russian Air Force at Kazan Helicopters plant in August 2017. They can be distinguished from Mi-17V-5s with their large chaff/flare dispenser modules behind their engine air intakes. (Photo by Babak Taghvaee)

8A813C Kontur-10C weather radar installed under nose cone of a RuAF’s Mi-8MTV-5-1 under production at Kazan Plant in August 2017. (Photo by Babak Taghvaee)

This is 97322 a Mi-8MTV-5-1 under production for RuAF at Kazan plant. Is planned to be delivered in 2018. (Photo by Babak Taghvaee)

One of two Mi-8MTV-5-1s of RuAF in final assembly line of Kazan Helicopters plant while has even its pylons and mounts installed. This one is planned to be delivered RuAF by end of 2017. (Photo by Babak Taghvaee)

RF-24774 and RF-24775, two Mi-8MTV-5-1s of 378th Army Aviation Base of RuAF at Vyazma during landing at Kubinka in May 2017. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/ Russian MOD)

The new design revisions of the Mi-8MTV-5 (Mi-17V-5) was introduced to the Ulan-Udeh factory as well, the manufacturer of the Mi-8AMT (Mi-171), an assault variant of the Mi-8MT resulting creation of Mi-8AMTSh (Mi-171Sh) equipped with one piece ramp cargo door and two side doors as well as the LPG-300 rescue hoist. But still based on customer request the older two-pieces clam-shell aft cargo doors were still available for installation on both Mi-17V-5 and Mi-171.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES Mi-8MTV-5 multipurpose helicopter is a modernization of Mi-8MTV rotorcraft, which has acquired a positive reputation during its operation in many countries of the world. Helicopter has advanced performance and is fitted with dolphin type nose, ramp, additional right sliding door, left widened sliding door. The Mi-8MTV-5 is a single-rotor scheme helicopter with tail rotor. The helicopter is powered by two TV-3-117VM gas turbine engines with take-off power 1,900hp (also can be equipped with VK-2500-03 engines) that provide high flight safety level as the flight is possible in case of one engine failure. Helicopter has main rotor with five blades and tail rotor with three blades. 64 HELIOPS FRONTLINE 64

Mi-8AMTSh manufactured by Ulan-Udeh factory is primarily in use for airborne assault. It has a large searchlight under nose usable for night flights specially during search and rescue missions. (Photo by Vadim Savitsky/ Russian MoD)



26 RED is one of four Mi-8MTV5-1s of 549th Army Aviation Base stationed in Lavashovo Air Base since 2016. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov)


39 RED/ RF-24774 and 40 RED/ RF-24775, two Mi-8MTV-5-1s of 378th Army Aviation Base of RuAF at Vyazma during landing at Kubinka in May 2017. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/ Russian MOD)


Helicopter is manufactured in basic transport Mi-8MTV-5 (without armament provisions) and military transport Mi-8MTV-5-1 (with provisions for armament) equipped with KSS-28N-2 communication system. For transport mission, it can carry a cargo inside the cabin up to 4,000kg or large sized cargoes up to 4,000kg by external sling. For Search and Rescue and also medical evacuation, it has the LPG-300 hoist to lift 300kg cargo (two people) during hovering at height of up to 50-55m and also an LPG-150 hoist to lift 150kg cargo (one person) up to 40m. Mi-8MTV-5 can transport up to 36 paratroopers and soldiers with equipment. It can also transport up to 12 casualties (injured) on stretchers with medical attendant or can carry both injured troops in sitting and on stretcher simultaneously during MEDEVAC missions. For parachute jumping or para-trooping its ramp door can be removed and safety barriers can be installed enabling 19 troopers to drop through sliding doors and cargo door. Simultaneously, it lift up to seven cargo bags (weight of each bag less than 100kg) which can be dropped by means of SU-R release devices. For self-protection against the MANPADS and air to air missiles, the Mi-8MTV-5 is equipped with L166V-11E Ispanka (Hot Brick) microwave IR jammer and 32-round 26 mm UV-26M or UV-26S-02 chaff/flare launchers installed on the top of its main fuselage. For close air support and any other kind of combat missions, it can be equipped with six pylons in both sides able to carry B-8V20 rocket launchers (carrying 20 S-8 unguided 80mm calibre rockets), UPK-23-250 gun pods equipped with GS-23L cannon and 250 rounds, KMGU-2 munitions dispenser as well as various unguided or iron bombs with maximum 500kg weight. Unlike Mi-8AMTSh assault variant manufactured by Ulan-Udeh, Mi-8MTV-5s can’t carry and launch 9M120 Ataka ( AT-9 Spiral-2) anti-tank missiles. The Mi-8MTV-5 has 8A813C Kontur-10C for weather and navigation with ability to detect dangerous areas of convectional clouds and storm activity. It has a A813-0106 240mm x 380mm slot array antenna installed in the dolphin nose cone or radome with 25 dB amplification power and ± 45 degrees or ± 60 degrees azimuth scanning range weighting 4.0kg connected to a A813-5704 Transmitter-

84 and 85 YELLOW are two of several Mi-8MTV-5-1s in service of 344th Combat Training Center, 4 TsBP i PLS (4th Center for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel VVS) at Torzhok. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov)

Receiver Unit with weight of 5.5kg. installed in avionic bay behind the radar which sends the information for display on A813-0407 or 0408 CRT display for colorimaging of the radar. Nowadays this 3.5kg CRT display has given its place to A8130409 MFD with weight of 2kg which can not only display color radar, but also TCAS and TAWS data as well as navigation data from navigation systems. The Kontur10C can automatically detect dangerous meteorological condition at a distance of 150km. In case of turbulence, its detection range (in automatic mode) is 100km.

IN SERVICE OF RUSSIAN AIR FORCE Kazan Helicopters manufactured several Mi-8MTV-5-1s for Joint State Tests of the Russian Ministry of Defense which entered in service of various RuAF units. First of the pre-production example was 20 RED with 96650 construction number was rolled out of the factory in 2007 and was operated by the 549th Air Group (former 332nd Independent Helicopter Regiment) at Pribylovo, Leningrad Oblast. The helicopter was later equipped with TV3-117VM-SBM1V engines and became izdeliye 835 in 2012 and underwent joint state tests at Torzhok in 2013. In 2008, five more examples were manufactured and all entered the 549th Air Group at Pribylovo. In 2009, nine more examples with 96774 to 96781 construction numbers and also 96793 c/n were manufactured by Kazan and all received 75 to 83 BLUE bort numbers. They entered in service of the 387th AA AvB at Budennovsk and received RF-95659 to RF-95667 serial numbers. Following the lessons learnt from the Georgian war in 2008 and when the Russian Air Force commanders realized that the force needs a huge number

This is 23 RED one of four Mi-8MTV-5-1s of 549th Army Aviation Base at Levashovo. It has No conventional mushroom shaped dust protection device on its engine air intakes. It has RWR antennas in front of the chin bubbles as well as armour around them. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov)


Thanks to its NVG compatible Instrument Panel, the Mi-8MTV-5-1 has great Instrument Flight capability. Here it can be seen prior a night flight. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov)


of new Mi-8 family helicopters to replace the ageing Mi-8MTs still in service, decisions were made to equip the Army Aviation Units of the RuAF with Mi-8MTV-5 and Mi-8AMT within ten years. First contract was finalized between Russian Helicopters and the Russian Ministry of Defense for 140 Mi-8MTV-5-1s manufactured by Kazan and 132 Mi-8AMT (Various variants) manufactured by the Ulan-Ude on 1st March 2011. Soon first batch of serial manufactured Mi-8MTV-5-1s consisted of seven examples with 41 to 47 RED bort numbers were handed over the 549th Army Aviation Force Base in two cities of Pribylovo and Levashovo. Followed to them seven more examples with 84 BLUE to 90 BLUE side numbers were completed and handed over the 387th AvB at Budyonnovsk in 2011. Production of these fourteen helicopters had been started in 2009. Five more examples with 14 to 18 RED bort numbers were also delivered the 549th AvB in 2013. The 344th Combat Training Center of the 4 TsBP i PLS (4th Center for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel VVS) at Torzhok which had received the first pre-production examples of the Mi-8MTV-5-1s for joint state tests and also instructor and test pilot trainings received two more examples with 96855 and 96935 construction numbers in 2011. In 2012, three more examples with 80, 84 and 85 YELLOW bort bumbers were delivered the training center at Torzhok. By the end of 2012, total 35 Mi-8MTV-5-1s were delivered to the units in Western District. Also in that year, several others were delivered units in Southern Military District within framework of the state defense order. In 2013, the next batch of Mi-8MTV-5-1s were delivered to newly formed 15th Army Aviation Brigade of the RuAF at Ostrov. According to the statistics twelve first examples

of Ostrov with 97131 to 97142 construction numbers and 19 to 30 WHITE side numbers respectively were rolled out of the factory between 16th August and 4th October 2013. They were painted all in overall gunship grey camouflage. Sixteen more examples were manufactured and delivered the newly formed Army Aviation unit in Ostrov in 2014. First batch was consisted of ten examples with 31 to 40 WHITE side numbers were delivered on 16th January 2014 and second batch of six with 57 to 62 WHITE side numbers later that year. 19 WHITE (c/n 97131) was later lost during an instrument flight training mission within 4.5km distance from its air base at Ostrov on 8th February 2016. Reason of the accident was main gearbox failure shortly after take-off which resulted death of all four crewmembers during that training flight.

KEEPING THE AIRCREWS COMBAT READY Five months after formation of the 15th Army Aviation Brigade, on 2nd April 2014, two Mi-8MTV-5-1s and two Mi-24Ps of the unit took part in a training exercise of the Russian Army in the Western Military District during which they provided fire support for units of the Airborne Forces from Kresty airfield where they had been deployed a day before. During the exercise, the Mi-8 pilots practiced rocketry and gunnery and finally bombing against land targets in a training landfill or range in the Pskov region. Total five Mi-8MTV-5s with ten sets of aircrews took part in the three days exercise. On 8th July 2014, for first time the ace Mi-8MTV-5-1 pilots from various army aviation units of RuAF took part in exercise Aviadarts-2014. They flew with 344th


Depending on area of their assignment and nature of their mission, RuAF’s Mi-8MTV-5-1s come in two different color schemes. (Photo by Kirill Andreev/ Russian MOD)

Combat Training Center’s Mi-8MTV-5-1s during the exercise and carried out rocketry and gunnery from Torzhok Air Base. Between 18th and 20th February 2015, the 549th Air Group as a part of the 549th Army Aviation Base at Pribylovo took part in tactical flight exercise at Kingisepp aerial range and the Kirillovskoye combined-arms gunnery range at Leningrad district. During the exercise, almost ten Mi-24PNs and Mi-8MTV-5-1s were used by the aircrews to not only practice gunnery, rocketry and bombing against targets within 500m to 5km distance in day and night rather designing new combat tactics. In June 2016, the Army Aviation Units in the South-Eastern Military District took part in a flight and tactical exercise to simulate tactical insertion and assault of the troops behind enemy lines. During the exercise, several Mi-8AMTSh Terminator and Mi-8MTV-5-1s and total 20 sets of aircrews took part. The Mi-8MTV-5-1s were from 387th AA AvB at Budennovsk. After insertion of the troops in Tarskoe gunnery range in North Ossetia and Arzgir gunnery range at Stavropol district, the helicopter pilots had to practice flight in low level, maintain radio contact and GLONASS and road navigation as well as refuelling in preplanned temporary bases. They also carried cargo and ammunition and provided close air support and escort for the troops on the ground. During another flight-tactical exercise (LTU) which was this time hold in Western Military District, 20 Mi-8MTV-5s, Mi-24PNs and Mi-35Ms from 549th Army Aviation Base and Air Group practiced gunnery, rocketry and bombing in day and night at Kingisepp aviation range in the Leningrad Region between 11th and 15th July 2016. Main goal of the exercise was to check the readiness of the flight crew to perform combat and special tasks for the combat purposes as well as practical training of new tactical methods and full use of their combat capabilities.

PEAK OF MASS PRODUCTION BY KAZAN PLANT JSC Kazan Helicopters mass produced the Mi-8MTV-5-1s faster than what was scheduled in 2011. On 23th April 2014, the factory completed production of total 7,500 Mi-8/17 family helicopters. The 7500th Mi-8 was a Mi-8MTV-5-1 with 72 HELIOPS FRONTLINE 72

86 YELLOW side number but with Mi-172 type clam-shell doors and aerials like a Mi-8MTV-5-1 painted in two shades of olive drab with light blue under side. On 16th July 2015, during the ceremony for acceptance of military products in the National Defense Management Center at Moscow, the Russian Helicopters holding company handed over another batch of six Mi-8MTV-5-1s equipped with new lighting system for the flight deck to enable its flight crew to use night vision goggles. The helicopters are believed to be the 97305 to 97310 which received 38 to 43 RED bort numbers and handed over the 378th Army Aviation Base of RuAF at Vyazma. On 13th May 2016, a batch of six Mi-8MTV-5-1s were handed over the Russian Air Force’s Southern Military District while six more examples were delivered another RuAF’s Army Aviation Base this time in a Western Military District on 16th December 2016. Two more examples were delivered to another unit which increased total number of delivered Mi-8MTV-5-1s to 16 in 2016. On 22nd February 2017, total sixteen Mi-8MTV-5-1s with 01 to 16 YELLOW bort numbers were delivered 1st Aviation Squadron 48th Army Aviation Base of RuAF located in Kamensk Uralsky under state defense order. Before that the unit was operating eighteen Mi-8MTs, Mi-8MDs, Mi-8MTV-1s and Mi-8MTV-2s as well as two Mi-26Ts in its 1st, 2nd and 3rd Aviation Squadrons. Four of the ageing Mi-8s had reached their MTBO (Meantime between Overhaul) and the rest were going to reach end of their airframe’s life. After their arrival new Mi-8MTV-5-1s, five of the ageing Mi-8MTs were withdrawn from service, the remaining ageing Mi-8s were entered in service of the 2nd AE leaving 1st AE only equipped with new helicopters. The 48th Aviation Base has also a 3rd Aviation Squadron which is stationed in Danilovo Air Base. The 48th Army Aviation Base which was an Aviation Group of RuAF’s 6980th AvB until 1st December 2011, has responsibility to take part in search and rescue missions for recovery of Soyuz spacecraft occupants in Kazakhstan since 2007. On 7th June 2017, completion of 100th Mi-8MTV-5-1 out of 140 ordered examples at Kazan Helicopters Plant was announced during visit of the Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, Yuri Borisov. Production of 40 more examples are planned to be completed until 2020. In next month on 26th July, a new batch of six Mi-8MTV-5-1s were delivered RuAF ahead of schedule after passing all of their post-manufacture FCF (Functional Check Flight) and flight and ground tests.

The Mi-17V-5 V prototype has a KNEI-8 integrated avionic system consisted of four Multifunctional Displays (MFDs), Flight Management System (FMS) and etc. (Photo by Babak Taghvaee)

MI-8MTV-5-V Based on the lessons learnt from the war in Syria, JSC Kazan Helicopters has


A pair of 549th Army Aviation Base Mi-8MTV-51s equipped with B-8V20 rocket pods. (Photo by Sergey Kuznetsov)


developed a new variant of the Mi-8MTV-5/ Mi-17V-5 helicopter more intended for export rather than being sold or used by Russian Air Force. The new variant name is designated as Mi-8MTV-5 V with export name of Mi-17V-5 V. The helicopter is visually different with the Mi-8MTV-5 with a FLIR or EO/IR system installed under nose, President-S DIRCM under the pylons and tail boom as well as new PUREAir air intake dust filters. Unlike the RuAF’s Mi-8MTV-5-1s which have conventional analogue instrumentation to lower the costs of manufacture, the Mi-17V-5 V has a KNEI-8 integrated avionic system consisted of four Multifunctional Displays (MFDs), Flight Management System (FMS) and etc. This helicopter is equipped with more powerful Russian-Made VK-2500PS-03 type engines each with 2,400hp power instead of Ukrainian made TV3-117VM with 1,900hp power. The engine is also equipped with BARK-6B-7S FADEC (Fully Digital System with Flow Control). The new engines caused installation of more powerful VR-17 gearbox instead of VR-14. The new gearbox can work up to 20 minutes after loss of its oil in emergency condition. The new helicopter has also stronger Safir-5K/G APU instead of Ai-9V APU with ability to start the engines at altitude of 6,000m (19,685ft) without any problem. The L370-5 (a.k.a PRESIDENT-S) installed on Mi-8MTV-5 V is a Russian Infrared Countermeasures System of the DIRCM (Directional Infrared Counter Measures) variety, designed to protect aircraft and helicopters by jamming the missile guidance of IR (heat seeking) missiles by laser and radiofrequency/ electronic jamming of the missile seeker of mostly MANPADS such as Russian made Igla and US Made Stinger. The system has been successfully tested in the war in Syria and showed its efficiency on-board RuAF’s Mi-8AMTShV Combat Search and Rescue Helicopters since 2015.

The new helicopter has also a new fit and forget PUREAir dust protection filter system manufactured by Pall Corporation similar to the one installed on Mi-171A2 instead of Mushroom shaped conventional DPDs. It increases flight safety, and engine power compared to the activated Dust Protection Unit (DPU) ‘mushroom’ separator system. It prevents engine erosion and protects the engine from Foreign Object Damage (FOD) and allows pilots to conduct brownout landings in the safest way rather than the quickest way. It can also be installed all year round snow and ice protection and minimize Hot Gas Ingestion (HGI) and reduce power loss due to uniform airflow distribution.

Mi-8MTV-5-1s of RuAF’s 15th, and 378th Army Aviation Bases as well as 344th Training Center are inseparable participants of annual Victory Day parade. (Photo by Russian Ministry of Defense)

FUTURE OF THE FLEET The Mi-8MTV-5-1 service life limit is 7,000 hours or 25 years of operation which can be extended to 35 years in case of renewal or lifetime extension if needed. Meant Time Between Overhaul (MTBO) of the Mi-8MTV-5-1 is not significantly different from the older Mi-8MTVs or even Mi-8MT. It is 1,500 hours or eight years of operation in temperate climate (seven years in tropical climate) until first overhaul and seven years in temperate climate (six years in tropical climate) before next overhauls. Their TV3-117VM engines service life limit is 4,500 flight hours and can be operated for 1,500 hours until its first overhaul while their next MTBO is also 1,500 flight hours. There are still huge numbers of spare parts available for the engines and even its Ukrainian manufacturer is still supplying Russian MoD with the spare parts and technical support for the engine. It is expected that the Army Aviation Units of the Russian Air Force operate the Mi-8MTV-5-1 fleet until end of 2040’s. If No replacement solution will be found for them, they can be operated even until end of 2050. According to the CEO of Kazan Helicopters Plant (part of Russian Helicopters) Vadim Ligay during his interview with the author on 24th August 2017, “production of Mi-38T transport helicopter for Russian Ministry of Defense will not cause termination of Mi-8/17 production lines in Kazan Helicopters”. He added “Mi-38T will be used beside current fleet and future generations of Mi-8 in Russian Air Force”. No new Mi-8MTV-5 V are planned to be ordered by Russian MoD in-order to be used by the Russian Air Force, but the current fleet of Mi-8MTV-5-1s will be slightly modernized in the level in a three to five years period from 2018. “Renovation of the helicopter fleet of the Ministry of Defense of Russia is one of the priorities of the holding company Helicopters of Russia. One of the key projects that we are implementing in the interests of the Russian military department is the modernization of the Mi-8MTV-5-1 helicopters. The machines will be equipped with a new auxiliary power unit, as well as receive advanced radio-electronic and navigation equipment. All these improvements will significantly improve the flight and operational characteristics of the helicopter” said Andrey Buginsky, the general director of the holding Company Russian Helicopters. Now Russian Air Force operates almost 105 Mi-8MTV-5-1s in service of four Army Aviation Bases, one Army Aviation Group, one Army Aviation Brigade and a Training Center in Central, Western, and Southern Military Districts. While soon delivery of its fleet of 134 Mi-8AMTSh and Mi-8AMTShV will be completed within next two years. These helicopters will be upgraded and then supplemented with more powerful and modern Mi-38Ts from 2020. v


Mil Mi-8MTV-5-1 the Flying Dolphins of Russian Air Force

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