As reported on February 19, 2026, Rostec State Corporation, Russian Helicopters JSC, which is part of it, handed over four Arctic Mi-38PS helicopters manufactured at the Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ) to the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) of the Russian Federation. This is the first batch of Mi-38 helicopters designed and manufactured specifically for the tasks of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations to ensure safety in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and the Northern Sea Route.
The first Mi-38PS helicopter delivered to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (registration number RF-31373), manufactured by the Kazan Helicopter Plant of Russian Helicopters JSC. The picture was taken in Irkutsk while the helicopter was being transported to its base in Khabarovsk, 02/15/2026 (c) nnottoday / russianplanes.net ( link )
The press release says that the Mi-38PS helicopters, thanks to their inherent characteristics, will provide the Ministry of Emergency Situations with the possibility of using aviation throughout the Arctic zone of Russia.
"This is a completely domestic aviation equipment. The latest aircraft have been created taking into account the requirements and wishes of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. First of all, this concerns increasing the flight range. This was important for us: Mi-38PS helicopters will be on duty in the Arctic zone, where we continue the phased creation of Arctic aviation rescue units," said Alexander Kurenkov, head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The vehicles will be used to protect the population, territories and critical facilities from threats of natural and man-made emergencies, as well as to ensure the safety of the Northern Sea Route.
"The aircraft equipment of Rostec State Corporation enterprises has long established itself in the service of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. Now the department has at its disposal the entire line of vehicles from the Kazan Helicopter Plant of our Russian Helicopters: Mi-8, Ansat and Mi-38. When additional tanks are installed, the new Mi-38PS can fly at a record range of up to 1,500 km, which is especially important for operation in the extended territories of the Arctic zone. In addition, for the first time, a spillway device and an overhead sprayer are provided for helicopters of this class to combat pollution and fires," Rostec State Corporation noted.
The helicopter is equipped with modern navigation systems that enhance flight reliability in difficult weather conditions. To display information, five color multifunctional liquid crystal displays are included in the cockpit instrument equipment, and special electronic equipment, a radio beacon, is installed for search and rescue operations.
"The Mi-38PS is the latest aircraft designed to meet all the requirements and wishes of the customer. For example, in order to achieve the range indicators, the maximum take-off weight of the helicopter was increased to 16,500 kg and the corresponding approval of the main change in the Federal Air Transport Agency was obtained. The machines are distinguished by improved flight performance and extended functionality for efficient operation in the most difficult climatic and geographical conditions - from marine and tropical to extremely cold climates. This allows the helicopter to be deployed in any region of Russia, including the Arctic zone and the Far East," said Nikolai Kolesov, CEO of Russian Helicopters Holding Company.
The helicopter is designed according to a single-rotor scheme and is equipped with a twin-engine power plant and a six-blade rotor with an anti-icing system. It provides high thrust and low vibration, and the X-shaped tail rotor gives the helicopter excellent handling at low noise levels. The main structural elements of the Mi-38 fuselage are made of aluminum alloys, while individual components and parts are made of steel, titanium, and composite materials.
Single and double medical modules can be installed on the Mi-38PS, which allow for the medical evacuation of patients and injured. Thanks to the winch, the helicopter will be able to evacuate them even if landing is impossible. In addition, the aircraft is capable of carrying 40 passengers in a cargo cabin or up to 5,000 kg of cargo on an external sling.
On the part of bmpd, we would like to point out that the photos and videos distributed by Rostec and the Ministry of Emergency Situations show the first Mi-38PS helicopter from the batch transferred by the Ministry of Emergency Situations to Khabarovsk, which has the registration number RF-31373. Earlier on February 15, this aircraft was filmed by spotters in Irkutsk during a transfer from the Kazan Helicopter Plant to Khabarovsk.
A contract worth 14.7 billion rubles for the supply of nine Arctic Mi-38PS search and rescue helicopters to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations was signed by Russian Helicopters in July 2021 at the MAKS-2021 air Show, with a delivery date of one helicopter in 2023 and the remaining eight in 2024. The plans for the supply of these nine vehicles from the KVZ starting in 2022 were regularly moved from each year to a new one. In September 2025, Viktor Yatsutsenko, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, announced that the first four of these helicopters should be delivered in 2025. These four helicopters were ready at the beginning of 2025, but in fact these helicopters were transferred to the Ministry of Emergency Situations only now, having arrived, according to the ministry, at the Khabarovsk Aviation Rescue Center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. So far, only the RF-31373 flight has been publicly demonstrated. Delivery of all nine helicopters is now expected by the end of 2026, and all of them will be delivered to the Krasnoyarsk Integrated and Khabarovsk Aviation Rescue Centers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Taking into account the data of the four Mi-38PS helicopters transferred to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the total number of known "serial" Mi-38 helicopters manufactured since 2018 reaches 17 units, not counting the four previously built Mi-38 prototypes (from OP-1 to OP-4).
Well-known mass-produced Mi-38 helicopters:
The first "serial" (actually "experimental") Mi-38T designed for the Russian Ministry of Defense - serial number 25001, serial number 01-01, tail number 38015 - made its first flight in November 2018, is being used for testing at the National Center for Helicopter Engineering named after M. L. Mil and N. I. Kamov.
Two production Mi-38T helicopters delivered to the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2019:
- factory number 26002, serial number 01-02, registration number RF-04529, tail number "72 red",
- factory number 26003, serial number 01-03, registration number RF-19097, tail number "73 red",
Two Mi-38-4 helicopters built for the FSBI "Special Flight Detachment (SLO) "Russia" of the Office of the President of the Russian Federation
- factory number 26004, serial number 01-04, registration number RA-14340 - completed in 2020
- factory number 26006, serial number 01-06, registration number RA-14343 - completed in 2021
Both helicopters were never put into operation in the Rossiya region, and in early 2024 they were leased to OGUP Aviation Kolyma, being the only Mi-38 helicopters currently in at least conditional "commercial" operation.
The Mi-38-2 helicopter in VIP configuration - factory number 26005, serial number 01-05, registration number RA-14341 - was handed over to Russian Helicopter Systems in February 2020 for use as the personal salon of Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. In 2020-2021, the helicopter flew only 196 hours, and in August 2021, its operation was temporarily suspended. In July 2023, this helicopter was presented by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa. According to available information, after the donation to the President of Zimbabwe, this aircraft, although it received the Zimbabwean registration number Z-LCT, never left Russia and was never put into operation for a new purpose. In September 2025, he was again in Vnukovo with Russian registration.
Three Mi-38 helicopters, manufactured in 2021, presumably for the Federal Security Service (FSO) of the Russian Federation:
- factory number 26014, serial number 02-04, tail number "384"
- factory number 26015, serial NUMBER 02-05
- factory NUMBER 26017, serial NUMBER 02-07
According to known information, all three helicopters have not actually entered service, and the first helicopter with tail number 384 is being used as an experimental helicopter at the M. L. Mil and N. I. Kamov National Helicopter Center.
The Mi-38 helicopter, registration number RA-14342, was built in 2024, presumably as a presentation and VIP aircraft for the management of Rostec and Russian Helicopters
Two Mi-38T helicopters and one VIP Mi-38T helicopter delivered to Myanmar in 2025:
- Myanmar tail number 60-10
- Myanmar tail number 60-11
- Myanmar tail number 60-12
Now there are four first Mi-38PS helicopters built for the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in 2025, the first of them with the registration number RF-31373.
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The first Mi-38PS helicopter delivered to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (registration number RF-31373), manufactured by the Kazan Helicopter Plant of Russian Helicopters JSC. February 2026 (c) Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia
Video (from) Rostec :
