The defense Ministry has approved a program for testing advanced military helicopters Mi-28NM and Mi-26T2B at high altitudes in the Elbrus region.
This was reported to Izvestia by sources in the defense Ministry. They will be held until the end of the year. Flights to the highlands are a necessary stage for the completion of tests and the start of mass production of vehicles on orders for the Aerospace Forces (VKS). According to experts, this is a difficult challenge for helicopters, but it should improve their export prospects.
To do this, the prototype Mi-28 OP-1 and Mi-28NM with the tail number 71, as well as Mi-26T2B No. 157, will be temporarily relocated to Nalchik. JSC "National Center of Helicopter Construction named after M. L. Mil and N. I. Kamov" has already signed contracts (available to Izvestia) for their airport service in the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria worth about 7 million rubles.
In previous years, they have already tested some samples of equipment of the Russian Helicopters holding, including the Ansat and Mi-171A2. general director of the company andrey boginsky explained that the test results will be important in negotiations with potential foreign customers.
