Mi-26 in a special military operation and the prospects for modernization
Mi-26 in the Kharkiv region. Source: youtube.com
General Staff Reserve
During the events in the Kharkiv region, which were designated by the Ministry of Defense as "regrouping of Russian troops stationed in the Balakleya and Izyum regions to build up efforts in the Donetsk direction." During the implementation of the plan, according to the General Staff, a number of distracting and demonstration measures were envisaged with the designation of the actual actions of the troops. We will not discuss the effectiveness of actions, but some military equipment used in the operation deserves special attention.
In particular, the world's largest mass-produced Mi-26 helicopters, which, judging by the footage from the combat zone, quickly transferred equipment and personnel to repel the Ukrainian offensive. It is not known what the helicopter crews were actually doing - they were transferring equipment or, as the RF Ministry of Defense mentions, they participated in "distraction and demonstration events with the designation of the real actions of the troops." In this case, the military transport Mi-26s acted as a reserve of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and, it is worth noting, the vehicles are perfect for this.
In the Kharkiv region, Mi-26s (judging by official personnel) were deployed, in addition to personnel, demining installations UR-77 "Meteorite". The weight of the armored vehicle is 15,5 tons. It's typically offensive weapon, which, however, can also be used defensively. Of course, if not for its intended purpose, but to destroy the enemy with several hundred kilograms of explosives in the demining cord. The UR-77 is especially effective in urban combat conditions. Also on the footage of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the transfer of MT-LB with a twin anti-aircraft gun was lit up.
Mi-26 in the Kharkiv region. Source: youtube.com
What is the Mi-26? This is a super-heavy class helicopter capable of lifting up to 20 tons into the air. If the pilots and technicians try very hard, then the giant will take on board 25 tons. In 1982, two years after the launch of the helicopter in a series, 14 world records were set on the machine, including lifting a 4-ton load by 100 meters. In the same record series, the Mi-25 lifted 10 tons to 26 meters.
Under normal conditions, no one overloads the Mi-26 like that. A typical mission of a heavy truck is a load of 15 tons, thrown over 500 km. The fuel reserve in this case is 5–10% of the calculated one. By the way, on the footage of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the transported UR-77 just fits into this scheme.
The main analogues of a much lower carrying capacity are the CH-53 Sea Stallion and CH-47 Chinook. Source: en.wikipedia.org
But let's get back to the limits. For comparison, the American heavy counterparts CH-53A / D Sea Stallion and CH-47 Chinook on the external sling and inside the fuselage carry up to 13,5 and 10,3 tons, respectively. That is, all other things being equal, NATO vehicles will have to make two flights or use a couple of vehicles in those situations where the Mi-26 can handle it alone and in much less time.
The Mil Design Bureau car takes on board up to 120 paratroopers, and the "Americans" - no more than 64. In fairness, the Americans partially leveled this shortcoming with a larger number of assembled equipment. CH-53 produced more than 500 pieces, "Chinook" - more than 1 copies. The Mi-200 sold over 26 aircraft.
The key advantage of the Russian rotorcraft is the ability to transport cargo that no helicopter in the world can lift. For example, in 2009, an external sling helicopter evacuated a pair of downed CH-47 Chinooks in Afghanistan. The construction of super-heavy helicopters has become a good tradition of the national aviation school. More about the predecessor of the protagonist, the air "truck" Mi-6, the Americans said:
Since then, little has changed - if the Mi-26 pulls up, it will tear off the ground CH-47 Chinook weighing 23 tons. And once again, for comparison, the maximum takeoff weight of a Russian heavy truck can reach 56 tons.
Fighting "cow"
In the army, the Mi-26 received the nickname "Cow" for its characteristic profile and sluggishness. However, this is only an external resemblance - the helicopter, despite the past 42 years since the first serial flight, is a modern and dynamic machine. Two motors with a capacity of 11,4 thousand liters. With. each provide a top speed of 295 km/h.
Mainly for foreign customers, the Mi-26T2 version was developed, created in 2011 after decades of oblivion. It so happened that in Soviet times and early Russian, only two modifications were put into operation - the army Mi-26 and the civilian one - 26T. It is they who now form the backbone of the army aviation VKS and civil sector.
The Mi-26T2 variant is distinguished, first of all, by modern electronic and flight equipment, which allows confident piloting at night. The crew in connection with extensive automation reduced from five to two crew members - the commander and pilot-navigator. If it is necessary to work with an external suspension, a flight operator is added.
In the airborne transport army Mi-26, the crew consists of a commander, a right pilot, a navigator, a flight engineer and a flight engineer. Developers from the Moscow Helicopter Plant. M. L. Mil, the Rostov Helicopter Plant and the Russian Helicopters holding company equipped the Mi-26T2 in 2011 with a “glass” cockpit with five displays and other ergonomic infrastructure.
An important option, especially in demand in the conditions of a special operation, are night vision goggles with a 3rd generation image intensifier tube. According to the developers, in the dark, the helicopter can fly at an extremely low altitude, without fear of power transmission line masts and trees. The limitation for flying at night, like all other helicopters, are power lines.
Of course, no one releases "cows" on a solo flight. On the footage of the Ministry of Defense, Mi-26s of various modifications in the Kharkiv region were accompanied by combat Mi-28s and Ka-52s. The helicopter does not have standard on-board armament, but it does have a partially armored cockpit and an airborne defense complex "President-S". It consists of a missile attack warning station, a laser station for optoelectronic suppression, a device for ejecting aviation consumables or, more commonly, firing off heat traps.
Mi-26. Source: en.wikipedia.org
The Mi-26 was also operated by our main adversary for some time, however, at a time when relations between countries were more like friendship. In Ukraine, after the collapse of the USSR, 28 Mi-26 helicopters immediately remained. By the beginning of the 2000s, the calendar overhaul life of the machines ended, and they no longer took to the skies. According to information from various sources, seventeen Ukrainian heavy trucks are in Kalinov, eleven are at the Konotop aircraft repair plant. Export versions of the helicopter serve in the air forces of Algeria, Venezuela, India, China, Jordan, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Congo and Equatorial Guinea.
The most modern version of the Mi-26T2V, designed for the VSK of Russia, is playing on the field of high-tech equipment. The helicopter differs from the previous version by the navigation and flight complex NPK90-2V, which significantly increases both the piloting itself and its safety. Interestingly, the military refused to reduce the crew to three people, although the onboard equipment easily allowed this. To combat enemy MANPADS, the latest helicopter is equipped with the Vitebsk airborne defense system with an ultraviolet direction finder, a laser suppression system and the usual heat traps.
The Mi-26T2V first took to the air in 2018, at the same time at the Army forum it was first presented to the general public. Serial production started a year later. On the footage of the official chronicle, heavy helicopters transferred equipment in the Kharkiv region not only in the daytime, but also at night, which suggests the use of the latest modification. At night, the Mi-26T2V works much more efficiently and safely.
Future
What are the prospects for the Mi-26? It is interesting to consider the possibility of modernizing a heavy helicopter in connection with the American Joint Transport Rotorcraft (JTR) program. This unrealized project appeared after the first war in Iraq and provided for the creation of a transport helicopter with a carrying capacity of 22,3 tons - this is the mass of a standard 6-meter container. Moreover, the transportation was planned both on the external and on the internal sling. They planned a tiltrotor scheme with four rotors. The promising machine was supposed to replace the CH-53A / D Sea Stallion and CH-47 Chinook mentioned above.
Customers from the Pentagon gave the developers truly fabulous requirements for the car. The range of the ferry flight was at least 3 km, that is, the equipped helicopter had to fly over the Atlantic without refueling. Cruising speed should reach 890–400 km/h. For a rotorcraft, even now, this is an almost unattainable bar, and for the mid-450s, it’s generally out of the realm of non-science fiction. As the American engineers rightly mentioned:
Despite such a critical assessment, the specialists of the Moscow Aviation Institute decided to simulate how fundamental changes in the design of the helicopter should be in order to comply with the JTR requirements.
First of all, it turned out that the tiltrotor scheme fashionable in the West for super-heavy rotorcraft transporters is not suitable - the weight return is insufficient. Therefore, only schemes of the traditional format with a high weight return and a low specific load on the main rotor. The Mi-26 fulfills one requirement of the American program by default - a 2,43x2,43x6 m container enters the cargo compartment without problems. It is only required to strengthen the loading hoists that run along the ceiling of the transport compartment. The situation is more complicated with motors, the power of which seriously limits the lifting of the specified container, especially at temperatures above 20 degrees.
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MAI engineers suggest that an increase in the power of each engine from 11,4 thousand liters. With. up to 14,8 thousand liters. With. will meet the requirements of the JTR. In terms of rate of climb of 2,54 m / s, first of all. The motors will also ensure the takeoff of a loaded helicopter from platforms at an altitude of up to 3 meters. Engine designers need to contrive so that the specific fuel consumption does not exceed 200 g / l. With. in hour. For comparison, now the Mi-165 burns 26 g/l. With. per hour at much lower power. The requirements for a flight speed of up to 195 km / h are not even able to fulfill the deeply modernized Mi-400.
Local improvements in aerodynamic quality are planned to be achieved through a new rotor profile with a 3% increase in efficiency. The retractable landing gear will reduce the helicopter's harmful drag. All this suggests that the potential for modernization of the honored rotorcraft is far from being exhausted - the Mi-26, if necessary, can meet the most stringent future requirements. Therefore, the version of the Mi-26T2V should be far from final.
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