Band-winged vehicles: the army will receive operating rooms based on the Mi-26

Helicopters will help provide surgical assistance near the line of contact

The armed forces of the Russian Federation will be replenished with flying operations based on the world's largest helicopters — the Mi-26. All the necessary medical equipment is placed in special containers that are installed in the cargo compartment of these machines. It allows you to perform the most complex operations — the kit includes resuscitation and equipment for functional diagnostics, as well as places for the wounded. Experts note that a flying operating room with qualified medics can quickly turn up at almost any point near the line of contact, which will save the lives of our fighters.

Surgical intervention

Currently, several fundamentally new aviation medical containers are being prepared for testing. The super-heavy Mi-26 helicopter will act as a carrier, sources in the Russian military department told Izvestia.

They noted that the containers include mobile operating rooms equipped with all the necessary equipment. They also have resuscitation equipment installed, places for transporting the wounded are provided. If necessary, the helicopter can arrive promptly, and medics can begin their work in the combat area, including directly next to the line of contact.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexander Kazakov

Image source: iz.ru

According to sources, the new containers were developed based on the experience of conducting a special military operation.

The ability to quickly provide qualified medical care will help save the lives and health of many fighters, Colonel Valery Yuryev, chairman of the Union of Paratroopers of Russia, told Izvestia.

— The helicopter will be in demand, — he is sure. — Timely qualified medical care significantly increases the chances of survival of the wounded — these are the basics. The helicopter will help to provide it as quickly as possible. He can fly to the area next to the line of contact and land on a small platform. The car will go many times longer, it will not be able to get anywhere at all due to the lack of roads and bridges or dirt, it will loop. The helicopter flies straight from point to point. In the area of a special operation, such a rotorcraft with surgeons and all the necessary equipment on board is very necessary. A good idea is brought to life.

This is an important moment in preserving the lives and health of servicemen who were injured, first of all seriously, Colonel Alexander Perendzhiev, associate professor at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, told Izvestia.

— Usually transport helicopters deliver units to the front line, and the wounded are transported back. — he noted. — First aid is one thing. But when qualified medical care is provided directly on the spot or during the flight, this is completely different. Time in many positions is very important. And not only with internal injuries, but also so that a person does not remain without an arm or without a leg, this requires efficiency — then infection may occur and it will be impossible to save the limb.

The expert noted that the conditions in the helicopter are not like in a hospital, but still much better than in the field.

Evacuation of a wounded soldier of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ilya Pitalev

— Prompt qualified assistance means a lot to save lives. This is a humane innovation, which shows that our leadership thinks about our soldiers, their lives, health and takes all necessary measures," Perendzhiev said.

Flying "cow"

The Mi-26 was chosen for airmobile surgery for a reason — it is the world's largest production helicopter. For his large size in the army, he is — lovingly — called a "cow". It is capable of lifting up to 20 tons into the air . The car has a spacious cargo compartment, where you can install a container with a surgical module without significant structural alterations.

Despite the more than 40 years since the first flight, this is a modern and dynamic machine. The helicopter can reach a maximum speed of 295 km/h.

Mi-26s have already been used in the area of the special operation. In particular, they were used during maneuver battles in 2022. It is known that in the autumn, these vehicles urgently transferred light armored vehicles and personnel to the Kharkiv direction.

Next year, a new modification of this helicopter, the Mi—26T2B, will begin to arrive in the troops. It differs from the previous models by a more advanced navigation, aerobatic and defensive complex, which will protect it from enemy anti-aircraft missiles.

Izvestia has already written that the fleet of the army aviation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation 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.

Mi-8 will help

The Russian army has been using special evacuation helicopters for a long time. They are made on the basis of the Mi-8 of various modifications.

As part of the equipment of the machine, there are more than 20 devices with which artificial ventilation of the lungs, stimulation of cardiac activity and other primary resuscitation actions can be carried out before the delivery of the victims to a specialized medical institution.

Medical module on board the Mi-8AMT ambulance helicopter

Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Pavel Lviv

On board, they can provide emergency care to two patients at once and, if necessary, perform an operation right during the flight.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the military has repeatedly practiced the use of the resuscitation module. In particular, anesthesiologists used respiratory resuscitation equipment to provide emergency medical care during the evacuation of a patient by air.

The elite Joint Medical Augmentation Unit (JMAU, Joint Medical Unit) has ambulance modules the US Army. JMAU has several types of containers in its arsenal for various aircraft platforms: MN—47 helicopters, MS-130 and C-17 transport aircraft. Its staff is responsible for providing medical care in combat conditions to elite Delta and DEVGRU detachments.

Alexey Ramm

Bogdan Stepovoy