Kuban first experienced a new generation of helicopters
The first batch of new Mi-8AMTSh helicopters ("Terminator"), consisting of ten copies, entered service with the army combat regiment aviation in the Kuban.
On this occasion, a solemn ceremony was held on the territory of the military airfield of the 393 helicopter base in Korenovsk, where the regiment is located, at which regimental officers, officials and journalists were present. The military pilots even managed to test the combat crews during the flight from the manufacturer’s plant (Ulan-Ude) to their destination in Korenovsk, flying a total of 1085 kilometers.
393-I helicopter base
The commander of the aviation regiment, Colonel Ryafagat Khabibullin, in general, praised the reliability and new features of the Terminators.
Colonel Ryafagat Khabibullin
In particular, he said: “The flight from Ulan-Ude to Korenovsk gave us an excellent opportunity to test the reliability of the flight, both the helicopters themselves and the electronic equipment, which we were able to check under different weather conditions.”
Khabibullin’s Deputy First Class First Class Pilot Lt. Col. Yury Oreshchenkov shared his impressions of the flight: “The designers didn’t invent significant new features compared to, for example, the Mi-8, in day piloting. But the nighttime use of the Mi-8AMTSH showed that we were armed with a helicopter capable of conducting independent, full-fledged hostilities at night. This is really a new feature, unique to Terminators, said Oreshenkov.
The main task of the new combat vehicle, according to Oreshenkov, is: “The task is the sudden appearance from ambush in a combat zone, the quick landing of the landing force, the launch of missiles and the same rapid movement to another sector or back to ambush. "Terminators" can perform all these actions at night. “The highlight of the new helicopter is its armament, which included Storm or Attack guided missiles and Igla air-to-air missiles,” Oreshenkov also noted.
Another innovation of the Mi-8AMTSH was singled out by the flight commander, Major Alexander Barsukov, a first class pilot, this is what he told reporters: “In the modern pace of military conflicts, a helicopter has only a few dozen seconds to land a landing force. If helicopter pilots linger, it is highly likely that the helicopter was shot down. It is to reduce the time of the landing on the "Terminators" with two sides open sliding doors and automatic ramp, replacing the mechanical sash ".
The possibility of covert night movement of new helicopters is provided by the use of night vision goggles by pilots. Since there was no such opportunity before, part of the flight personnel of the regiment had to learn a little more. You will also have to learn a little more about the technical staff, on whose actions much depends on the successful departure of the helicopter.
Equipping helicopter regiments with the latest combat vehicles such as the Mi-8AMTSH (“Terminator”) certainly increases the combat readiness of army aviation and allows you to detect enemy bases and conduct reconnaissance with greater efficiency. Many military experts believe that the accelerated development of army aviation, which occurs when the combat capabilities of the army ground forces are increasing, can finally make army aviation one of the main means of dealing with an external enemy with good prospects. Against this background, the assault aircraft will go into the shadows, which, for example, is confirmed by the beginning of the reduction of assault aviation regiments.
Also to the above helicopter features, it should be added that all Mi-8AMTSH helicopters, in addition to night vision goggles, are equipped with GLONASS and GPS satellite navigation, allowing pilots to freely navigate at any time of the day and two radio stations for uninterrupted communication with the crews of the earth. On board the terminator can take up to 34 fighters assault or intelligence.
Export version of the Mi-8AMTSH helicopter (Mi-171Sh)
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