Russia wants up to 100 Mi-8 AMTSh "Terminator" helicopters for country's Arctic Command

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World Defense & Security News - Russia
 
 
Russia wants up to 100 Mi-8 AMTSh "Terminator" helicopters for country's Arctic Command
 
The Russian Defense Ministry wants up to 100 Mi-8 "Terminator" helicopters specially modified for service under the recently formed Arctic Command, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov was quoted by Russian news agency TASS as saying Tuesday, March 24.
     
The Russian Defense Ministry wants up to 100 Mi-8 "Terminator" helicopters specially modified for service under the recently formed Arctic Command, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov was quoted by Russian news agency TASS as saying Tuesday, March 24.
Russian Arctic Command asked for up to 100 Mi-8 AMTSh "Terminator" assault and transport helicopters
     
The order size may depend on how well five test helicopters perform in trials. "Today we have the first helicopter [on the shop floor]...we'll see how it handles," Borisov said. Flight tests for the Arctic Terminator will begin later this year, TASS reported.

The armored assault transport helicopter is but one of a number of specialized vehicles the military hopes to procure for its Arctic forces, which Russia has been steadily building up since last year.

The Mi-8 AMTSh "Terminator" helicopter is an armored assault modification of the Mi-8 transport helicopter. Its main role is to carry cargo and troops and support them with firepower. For this task, it is equipped with Shturm-V or Ataka-V anti-tank guided missiles, Igla air-to-air missiles and two 7.62 mm machine guns. The helicopter can carry 36 troops or 4,000 kg of payload in its cargo compartment in addition to 4,000 of cargo externally.

The Arctic's uniquely inhospitable conditions require vehicles, helicopters in particular, to be modified to operate in up to -50 degrees celsius, with strong winds and other extreme weather conditions.