MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Aerospace Forces will start receiving the upgraded Mi-26T2 heavy-lift transport helicopters in 2018, a spokesman for the manufacturing firm Russian Helicopters said.
"Deliveries of Mi-26T2 to the Russian Defense Ministry are planned for 2018, but this deadline depends not only on the Russian Helicopters holding’s enterprises," Director of Public Procurement and Military-Technical Cooperation Vladislav Savelyev told RIA Novosti.
According to Savelyev, requirements for the new helicopters include installation of a new flight and navigation system, upgraded airborne defense system as well as the implementation of other design decisions.
The upgraded Mil Mi-26T2 (NATO reporting name Halo) is an all-terrain multipurpose transport helicopter, largest of the Mi-26 family of helicopters. The original Mi-26 was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s.
