Russia to Launch Serial Production of Mi-38 Helicopters

Russia’s Rostec is set to launch the serial production of its new Mi-38 multirole helicopter after the manufacturer, Kazan Helicopter Plant, received Russian Federal Air Transport Agency certificate.

Russian Helicopters expects to deliver the first rotorcraft to the Russian Ministry of Defense in this year.

The serial version of the Mi-38 made its first public appearance at MAKS-2019 Airshow, Moscow, in August. The aircraft was part of both flying and static displays. The civil variant of the chopper made its international debut at the ongoing Dubai Airshow.

The Mi-38 is equipped with new domestic TV7-117V engines, an integrated digital flight-navigation system with data indication on five LCD displays, an explosion-proof protected fuel system. Also, the helicopter was equipped with additional supports on the landing gear for landing on soft ground and snow.

The areas of use of the Mi-38 helicopters are cargo and passenger transportation, search and rescue operations, VIP transportation. Mi-38 flight range in the transport configuration with additional fuel tanks is up to 1000 kilometers.

The helicopter features improved aerodynamic contours of fuselage and cowling of a propulsion unit, main rotor spinners and a swashplate. Engines are placed "behind" the main rotor transmission instead of their traditional placement in front of it. This allowed reduction in aerodynamic resistance and noise level in a cockpit, and increased safety of the machine.