Russian Helicopters to develop Modern Shipborne Helicopter, 'Minoga'

Russian Helicopters today signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense for the development of a modern shipborne helicopter.

The agreement was inked during the ongoing Army-2020 International Military-Technical Forum. The new helicopter will be named as 'Minoga,' Russian media, Interfax reported.

"This marks a new stage in the creation of modern shipbornehelicopter. Earlier, working together with the Russian Ministry of Defense, we established the terms of reference required for R&D side of this project. Today, we validated the project with the signing of relevant documents. The new shipborne helicopter design has now been completely established, and we are moving on schedule, in accordance with the goals set by the customer", said the Director General of Russian Helicopters Andrey Boginsky in a Russian Helicopters press release.

Development work will be carried out by specialists from the National Helicopter Center Мil&Kamov. In accordance with the approved schedules, first stage of development is planned to be completed within three years.

The project will lead to the creation of universal shipbornehelicopter capable of performing search and rescue, troop transport and ASW missions.

Interfax reported that the new helicopter is intended "for aviation support for the combat operations of the modern Russian Navy in any theaters of military operations, including high latitudes," it is intended to replace the Ka-27 / Ka-29 anti-submarine choppers.

In April 2019, the preliminary design of a fundamentally new deck-based helicopter was completed, and its life-size model was created.