It allows you to quickly transfer personnel and equipment between directions, experts explain
The new Mi-26T2B transport helicopter performed its first combat sorties in the special operation zone in Ukraine. It was the results of this work that allowed the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to adopt it, as previously reported by the head of the army aviation of the VKS Igor Romanov. The helicopter even entered the area of operation of the Ukrainian air defense and proved itself well, sources in the military-industrial complex told Izvestia and interlocutors in the Ministry of Defense confirmed. The Mi-26TV-2 is the latest modification of the world's heaviest production helicopter equipped with an anti—aircraft missile system. It will allow you to quickly transfer personnel and military equipment between directions, and deliver them directly to the front edge, experts noted.
Reliable support
The new super-heavy Mi-26T2B helicopter has been used in the special military operation zone for more than a year. According to the results of combat work, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation decided on its serial purchases, sources in the military-industrial complex told Izvestia and their interlocutors in the military department confirmed.
In addition to the usual transportation of equipment, personnel and cargo, the giant helicopter has participated in combat sorties several times over the past year. The Mi-26T2B operated directly in the area of enemy anti-aircraft systems. At the same time, its onboard defense system showed high efficiency. He did not allow the enemy to hit the super-heavy helicopter.
According to one of the interlocutors of the publication in the defense industry, the Mi-26T2B proved itself well during last year's battles in the area of Balakleya and Kupyansk. Thanks to its high flight characteristics and self-defense complex, it was able to carry out landings almost on the line of contact.
Mi-26T2B transport helicopter
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Maishev
Earlier, the fact that the new heavy wide-body transport Mi-26T2B was adopted by the Russian Aerospace Forces, said the head of the army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces Igor Romanov. According to him, the army aviation fleet is updated annually due to the arrival of new and modernized aviation equipment. In 2023, in addition to the Mi-26T2B, Ka-52M, Mi-28NM, Mi-8AMTSh-V, Mi-8MTV-5M helicopters were received from the industry.
At one time, the Mi-26 replaced the Mi-6 and over the years has established itself as a reliable machine, former commander of the 4th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense, Lieutenant General Valery Gorbenko, told Izvestia.
— The helicopter is not a combat helicopter, but a transport helicopter, it can take away a lot, — the expert explained. — The new Mi-26T2B vehicle will transport personnel, equipment and ammunition directly to the front line. He can land on limited platforms. All this allows you to quickly strengthen one or another section of the line of contact, to do it unexpectedly for the enemy.
The Mi-26 can carry one amphibious assault vehicle and about 60 paratroopers, Colonel Valery Yuryev, chairman of the Union of Paratroopers of Russia, told Izvestia.
Mi-26 heavy transport helicopter
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
— These machines were used during maneuver battles in 2022, — he said. — For example, when there were problems in the Kharkiv direction, ours strengthened the grouping there, transferring units from one direction to another. In addition, they can transport the most important pieces of equipment that have become necessary, for example, air defense equipment.
The "twenty-sixth", unlike the maneuverable Mi—8, is not suitable for the landing of tactical air landings - it is too large and slow-moving for this, Valery Yuryev noted.
Combat "cow"
The Mi-26T2B are manufactured at the Rostvertol aviation enterprise in Rostov-on-Don. It is considered the most massive heavy transport helicopter in the world, with a payload capacity of 20 tons. The crew consists of five people.
A new model of the world's most lifting military transport helicopter was created by the Russian Helicopters Holding company (part of the Rostec State Corporation). "Cows", as these machines are called by pilots for their solid dimensions, have become more protected, have received modern electronic equipment and have learned to navigate in difficult weather conditions.
The Mi-26s were upgraded taking into account the combat experience acquired by the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria.
The first flight of the Mi-26T2B took place in August 2018, and preliminary tests that confirmed the characteristics embedded in the car were completed in January 2019.
Mi-26T2 helicopter
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Sergey Pivovarov
Mishina is innovative. It is equipped with the most modern avionics equipment: advanced flight navigation system, inertial navigation system and GLONASS. Avionics allows you to control the car at any time of the day.
The digital autopilot can not only guide the Mi-26T2 along the route, but also provide its automated approach with hovering at a given altitude.
The helicopter is equipped with an indication system of the main indicators of the instruments on electronic displays, which increases the convenience of piloting.
The machine can climb to a height of up to 4,6 thousand. m and fly at a maximum speed of 295 km / h. The flight range is up to 1905 km.
The Mi-26T2B received an onboard defense system, the characteristics of which are not disclosed. It is known that it effectively fights anti-aircraft missiles.
Combat history of the Mi-26
The first serial copy of the Mi-26 left the workshop on October 4, 1980, and over the years various modifications of the helicopter have participated in many armed conflicts.
The Mi-26 was first used in a combat situation in 1984. The vehicles operated as part of the Soviet limited military contingent in Afghanistan.
These helicopters were also used by the military during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in the first and second Chechen campaigns, and operations of the International Security Forces in Afghanistan.
Mi-26 helicopter, 1981
Image Source: Photo: TASS/Boris Korzin
In particular, in the fall of 2009, the Mi-26 took out from under fire an American CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter of the US Armed Forces, which made an emergency landing near Kandahar.
During the entire period of operation, several such vehicles were shot down by MANPADS fire. The biggest disaster occurred on August 19, 2002 in Chechnya — the board was hit by MANPADS and fell into a minefield, killing 127 people. Two more aircraft were shot down by MANPADS in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1992. In 2009, the Mi-26 was hit by MANPADS or a grenade launcher in Afghanistan, killing seven people.
Mi-26s were used by the UN in peacekeeping missions in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, in Somalia, Burundi, East Timor.
These vehicles of various modifications are operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces, the FSB Border Guard Service and the National Guard troops, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and civil aviation companies.
Alexey Mikhailov
Bogdan Stepovoy
