Russian Defense Ministry Orders Three More Arctic Helicopters

The Russian Defense Ministry has ordered the delivery of three additional helicopter developed specifically for the Arctic deployment, a managing director of Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant manufacturing facility, part of Russia’s state technologies corporation Rostec, said Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In November, the Russian military received its first Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopter that features new Klimov VK-2500-03 turboshaft engines, a more powerful TA-14 auxiliary power plant and upgraded avionics. It has high-altitude navigation, as well as the capability for day and night flight in adverse weather conditions.

"[The helicopter] has no equals in the ability to perform tasks in the arctic climate," Leonid Belykh said commenting on the ministry's interest in procuring the aircraft.

Russia's revised military doctrine, signed by President Vladimir Putin in December 2014, for the first time named the protection of national interests in the Arctic among the main priorities for its armed forces during peacetime.