18:19 GMT, July 28, 2010 Rostvertol PLC presented its products at Farnborough’2010 International Air Show. The Rostvertol delegation was headed by Director-General Mr. Boris N. Slyusar.

The Rostvertol plc has heavy cargo helicopters of Mi-26T type, the new-generation helicopter designated Mi-28N and various modifications of military helicopters of Mi-24 (35) type in its serial production, is undertaking overhaul and upgrade of the Rostvertol-built aircraft, thus substantially contributing to the renewal of the Russian Air Force fleet.


Mi-26T

The heavy Mi-26T is the only aircraft capable of airlifting of both internal and external load of the total 20 tonnes. Among Mi-26T capabilities always to be wanted is firefighting. Today firefighting is of a special importance because environment pollution has become the problem of the day.

This year Mi-26T helicopter of Rostvertol-Avia Company took part in the biggest firefighting in the south of Russia. By the time the helicopter arrived the situation was a critical one. 700 hectares were on fire. The inhabitants of the population centers nearby were evacuated. Within two days the helicopter dropped water 27 times with total water capacity of 405 tonnes. On the third day the fire was contained.

For many years Mi-26T helicopters have been operated in Greece. As a rule, operations were performed in mountainous areas, adverse weather conditions and dense-smoke environment. It was not once when Mi-26T proved its reliability and utility. In summer 2009, forests near Athens, Greece were ablaze. A Mi-26T was leased to Scorpion International for the period from June to October in addition to their own Mi-26T as well as one more Mi-26T of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Management. The situation was worsened by strong wind and heat and yet the fire in the Athens suburb was extinguished. According to Greek firefighters, one of the key roles was played by Mi-26Ts.

Many French people still have memories of the 2003 forest fires that struck the South of the country. The situation was so critical that the country appealed for international assistance. The Russian airmen along with their counterparts from Germany, Greece, Spain and Italy were fighting fires in a 40-degree environment in the Departement de Varres and Bouche-du-Rhone, near Nice and on Corsica. During these operations, the helicopters discharged over the burning forests more than 4 thousands of tons of water. For this job the Mi-26Ts were given the respectful nickname “water bombers”. The advantage of the Mi-26T over the planes that drop water in a low flight is in that they have a pointed and controllable water discharge.

One of the principle functions of Mi-26T helicopter is transportation specially of bulky king-size cargoes. In summer 2009 Mi-26T belonging to Russian Ministry of Emergency Management transported Alinghi 5 catamaran (30 m in length and weighing more than 10 tonnes) from Swiss Shipyard in Vilnev, where it was built, to Lake of Geneva. In a month after official presentation and running tests Alinghi 5 was unprecedentedly transported by Mi-26T helicopters over Alps and successfully landed on water in Genoa. Swiss crew of Alinghi was to take part in the Cup of America, the most famous world regatta.

Before the yachts were transported by land taking many precautions. But for heavy square-shaped catamaran crossing the mountains was nearly unfeasible. The only possible way out was transportation by air. The only aircraft in the world capable to cope with that task was Mi-26T.

Arrived for mission accomplishment the helicopter for couple of minutes hovered over the catamaran – it was enough to fasten it to external sling hitches. The helicopter climbed to the altitude and directed to Saint Bernard pass. Around one hour was taken to reach the pass. Performance was amazing – the helicopter with catamaran on the sling, on the altitude 3500 miters over the sea level against Alps peaks. Landing on water of catamaran in Italy was no less successful than the ferry. Transalpine travel of Alinghi 5 to Genoa was successful and this added one more significant deserts to helicopter fame, as well as increased the number of admires of powerful Russian aircraft.

In many European countries, such as Sweden, France, Germany and Austria, the Mi-26T were and are used in unique installation operations. So, using a Mi-26T, a wind power plant weighing 60 tons and being 70 m tall was constructed in the mountainous Westviellet in the northwestern Sweden. The Mi-26T has installed the highest (elevation 975 m) North-European wind generator. With few flights for the Swedish Bochus Energy, the Russian crew airlifted the 60-ton installation to the point in adverse weather conditions.

One of the most important deployments of the Mi-26T is disaster-relief operations including environmental disasters. So, in the region of Nevinomyssk (Stavropol Territory) the Mi-26T took part in mounting an additional strengthening beam (a pipe 1.220m in diameter, 30m in length and weighing 15 tonnes) for an aerial crossing of the oil-trunk pipeline “Malgobek-Tikhortsk” across the Kuban River. This task was accomplished by a high-skilled flight crew from Rostvertol plc.

In Germany, an installation operation was urgently carried out by the Mi-26T at the Thyssen-Krupp steel foundry in Duisburg. A horizontal 25-m pipe of 2 m in diameter with two down-pointed flanges at the ends was put in position to repair the gas pipeline that was supplying gas to the entire foundry. The pipe weight was 15 tonnes.

Because of its multifunctional feature and fire-control in particular, the Mi-26T is in a special repute of many countries, including European. For many years, the Mi-26Ts are used in fire-fighting operations in Greece. As a rule, operations were in mountainous areas, adverse weather conditions and dense-smoke environment. And many times the Mi-26T aircraft have proven their reliability and efficiency.

The helicopter is in a constant demand in the world market. Today besides Russia and CIS countries India, Venezuela, Greece, and China are the main operators of this helicopter. It is also leased in many European, Asian and African countries.

In March 2010 the Rostvertol plc and Lectern Aviation Supplies Co., Ltd (China) signed a contract on delivery of a new Mi-26TC helicopter (Mi-26T certified version).This is already the third Mi-26TC sold to PRC. As the first two helicopters the third Mi-26TC is being purchased mainly for extinguishing fires and liquidating consequences of extraordinary situations.

Mi-26(T) is a heavy lift transport helicopter capable of carrying cargoes weighing up to 20 tons in the cargo compartment or on the external sling. Cargo compartment length – 12.1m (with ramp length included– 15m), width – 3.2m, height – from 2.95 to 3.17m. For the first time in helicopter engineering the Mi-26(T) was designed with eight-bladed main rotor. Main and tail rotor blades tail sections are made of fiber-glass. The Mi-26T crew is arranged in a comfortable pressurized well-protected cabin fitted out with necessary flight-navigation equipment.

Usage of a wide spectrum of additional removable equipment enables quick conversion of the basic helicopter into one of the following versions:

troop-carrier - the helicopter is capable to transport 82 fully-equipped troopers (rescuers). In emergency situations the helicopter may take on board up to 200 persons.

ambulance – may transport 60 stretcher cases with three medical attendants.

fire-fighter - with VSU-15A water-discharging device (15 tons capacity) on the external sling intended for extinguishing and localizing fires.
refueler - the helicopter can deliver quickly up to 14 040 liters of aviation and diesel fuel.

The scientific-technical progress does not stand still; even the best aircraft require renovation. Rostvertol plc is constantly upgrading the Mi-26T. Upgrading can be done according to customer’s reqyuirements as well.


Mi-28N

In October 2009 the new generation helicopter Mi-28N Night Hunter, according to the President D. A. Medvedev’s Decree, was recommended to be put in the inventory of the RF Armed Forces.

The Mi-28N Night Hunter incorporates a long Russian and foreign experience of development, application and upgrading of combat rotorcraft. This helicopter is designed to support land forces with fire-power round-the-clock in simple and adverse weather conditions. It has everything required for this purpose: high flying speed, combat survivability and a wide range of up-to-date protection and destruction means. Besides, the Mi-28N is significant because of its low signature level for ground destruction means and has an armoured cockpit. Mi-28N is fitted out with an up-to-date armament complex providing ability to apply the whole nomenclature of aircraft destruction means in any weather conditions. The helicopter’s armament consists of a gun, guided and unguided rocket armament. Flexible gun mount is equipped with a 30-mm cal. A42 gun. External store racks envisage suspension of ATGM “Ataka” and “Igla” air-to-air missiles with heat-seeker heads, as well as S-8 and S-13 type rockets.

The designers provided survivability to combat damages due to principally new arrangement of the engines allowing the helicopter to continuing a combat mission accomplishment even when one of the engines is damaged. All vital helicopter systems and aggregates are protected by reliable armour providing crew protection from armour-piercing incendiary bullets of 12.7mm calibre and projectiles of 20-23mm calibre. During development of the Mi-28N new materials and structures, withstanding combat damages, were used: composite main rotor blades which withstand hitting by 20-30mm calibre projectiles, fuel system structure which prevents explosion or inflammation of fuel.

The Mi-28N helicopter is fitted out with an integrated aircraft radio-electronic equipment complex which provides solving of piloting and navigational tasks round-the-clock in simple and adverse weather conditions. Application of this complex with using cartographical information enables nap-of-the-earth flying at low altitudes in automatic mode, detection and identification of ground and air targets, definition of their coordinates and output of target designation to ground and air command posts. Export version of the helicopter – Mi-28NE. Abroad the Night Hunter has high perspectives. Several CIS, European, Asian and Latin American countries have already shown interest in procuring the Mi-28NE.


Mi-35M

Over their long service period, the Mi-24/35-type helicopters have proved to be reliable in the toughest combat situations and are today a most effective battleship in the inventory of tens of countries including Eastern Europe. The Mi-24s are still in the Air Force armoury of some ex-socialist-bloc countries.

But the armament market is a rapidly changing market. Today, some European companies are working on an upgrade of this helicopter having the longest combat record, and often unauthorized. Together with Moscow Helicopter Plant, Rostvertol plc, having all necessary documents and authority, has carried out a development of the Mi-24 consisting of two lines: Mi-24PN for the Russian Air Force and Mi-35M for export.

The upgraded Mi-35M aircraft comprises a navigation and digital display system, sighting and computing system and modern radios. The combat machines are fitted with the APU-8/4-U launcher which can carry 8 guided missiles in tubes. The anti-tank armament system designated 9K113K has the OPS-24N round-the-clock surveillance and sighting system. The latter includes the thermal and TV channels, laser range meter and direction finder. The lighting system of the Mi-35M is compatible with a 3-rd generation NVG, both Russian and Western makes. With these and many other improvements, the Mi-35M is an attack battleship with precision round-the-clock weapons.

One of the features of the Mi-35M is a fixed-type landing gear, shorter stub wing with racks and built-in hoisting system to facilitate the attachment of weapons.

Latest technologies of the Mi-28N, also being produced by the Rostvertol plc, were incorporated in the design of the Mi-35M. So, the Mi-35M has the main rotor blades of the composite material like Mi-28N and new VK-2500 angine. The improved blade profile resulted in the enhanced performance of the aircraft and the composite material increases the life and survivability. Similar to the Mi-28N, the Mi-35M has an X-shaped tail rotor which improves the directional control and decreases the noise signature of the helicopter.

There is an option of installation of western-made radios for the integration of the aircraft in the units of the joint NATO forces.

Today, the Rostvertol plc is ever more cooperating with countries of Latin America. In the late 2008, a contract was signed for the supply of the Mi-35s for the Brazilian Air Force. Last December, the first three were delivered to the Air Base of Porto Velho.
Last April, a Rostvertol delegation headed by their director-general Boris N. Sliussar took part in a ceremonial acceptance of the first Mi-35M batch at Porto Velho.

The ceremony was attended by the Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim, Air Force commander Juniti Saito, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai P. Patrushev, Russian Ambassador to Brazil Sergey P. Akopov and Rosoboronexport Director General Anatoly P. Issaikin. Mr. Nelson Jobim said that the Mi-35M helicopters are becoming a national asset of Brazil. “These helicopters enhanced our helicopter units”, the Minister added. He then conducted a christening ceremony of the aircraft giving them the name of AH-2 Sabre.

The new helicopters will be deployed at the Air Base of Porto Velho and belong to Poti, the second squadron.

According to Brazilian media, with the Sabre the Brazilian Air Force has received their first actual combat helicopter. Up to then, they used H-50 Esquilo tailored as an attack helicopter. And the Sabre has a new quality of a “military” DNA.

The Sabres will provide a quick-response to threats also in the eastern delta of the Amazon which has a strategic importance to the country.

The new helicopters are expected to patrol the region and fight infiltratorts.

The Poti squadron was specially transferred from Recife to Porto Velho to accommodate these helicopters.

“We shall defend the Amazonia for us and the entire world”, - the defence minister said. “And the Poti squadron with their newest AH-2 Sabre will be a powerful tool of this defence endevour. From today onwards, we are prepared to confront any threat”, - so Mr. Jobim.

The first recipient country of the Mi-35M was Venezuela. Ten Mi-35Ms were delivered to this country between 2006 and 2008. According to the Venezuelans who already have some experience with these aircraft, the
Mi-35Ms have some advantages over the rotorcraft previously used by the

Venezuelan Army Aviation. The appearance of the Mi-35Ms in Venezuela and Brazil marked a new quality of their helicopter fleets.