Rostec State Corporation presented the upgraded Mi-8MTV-1, adapted specifically to the requirements of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. Alexander Kurenkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, inspected the improved rotorcraft at the Kazan Helicopter Plant of the Russian Helicopters Holding. The agency will receive the first helicopters by the end of 2022.The Mi-8MTV-1 has completely replaced the avionics and installed a new flight and navigation system.
Thanks to the automation of all flight modes and the creation of a digital information field about the spatial position of the machine, the capabilities of the helicopter, which is ready to perform the most difficult tasks, have been significantly expanded. The changes significantly reduce the load on the crew and ensure a high level of flight safety.
"Our aviation is actively used to perform tasks of varying complexity and on different terrain. Last year alone, the total flight time was about 13 thousand hours and almost 15 thousand flights were completed. To effectively extinguish wildfires, about 7 thousand drains with a volume of more than 39 thousand tons of extinguishing liquid were carried out. All this confirms the need for constant replenishment of special units with such equipment. It should be adapted to the tasks facing our department, equipped with modern realities and technologies," said Alexander Kurenkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Response.
Pilots can use night vision goggles, which significantly increases the effectiveness of search and rescue operations in the dark and conditions of insufficient visibility.
"The modernization of the multi-purpose Mi-8MTV-1 was carried out taking into account the long-term experience of operating our helicopters in the Russian Emergencies Ministry. More than 40 changes were introduced into the basic Mi-8 appearance. In particular, work has been carried out on import substitution of the auxiliary power plant. This made it possible to increase the execution time of operations with long-term autonomous helicopter basing from 30 minutes to 5 hours. Under the contract with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, it is planned to deliver five cars by the end of 2023. Three helicopters are ready for transfer, another one will be released before December of this year," said Anatoly Serdyukov, Industrial director of the aviation cluster of Rostec State Corporation.
The helicopters are equipped with an external suspension for the transportation of bulky cargo weighing up to 4 tons. In addition, for rescue operations, rotorcraft are equipped with a winch with a lifting capacity of 300 kg.
The versatility of the Mi-8MTV-1 is also expanded by installing two additional internal fuel tanks and using a video surveillance system, which provides greater safety when working with an external suspension and parachute-free landing.
"Tatarstan has great industrial, scientific and technological potential. One of the flagships of not only the republican, but also the aviation industry of the country is the Kazan Helicopter Plant, – said the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. – Helicopter equipment manufactured by KVZ is famous for its reliability all over the world. We are especially proud that our company supplies modern aviation equipment for emergency services that save the most valuable thing – people's lives."
Mi-8 series helicopters have been operated by the Ministry of Emergency Situations for more than a decade. In total, the Kazan Helicopter Plant has supplied more than 40 helicopters of this family to the department. In 2020, the aviation fleet of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia was replenished with the first Ansat helicopter, which performs tasks on the territory of the North-Western Federal District.
