The Western Military District will receive new Mi-8AMTSh-VN helicopters to support commandos and strikes in hostile rear, the Izvestia daily writes.

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Mil Mi-8AMTSh-VN (Picture source: Air Recognition)

Supplies

“The 440th helicopter regiment in Vyazma will be the first to receive new helicopters. The rotorcraft will be then supplied to other regiments and brigades in 2022,” it said.

Russian Helicopters Holding produces the rotorcraft. Its CEO Andrey Boginsky told TASS the first batch was produced in November 2021. “The next batch will come in 2022. We have orders for the helicopter for this and next year,” he said.

Mi-8AMTSh-VN

Mi-8AMTSh-VN delivers commandos and paratroopers to enemy rear and provides fire support. The helicopters operate in any weather and time of the day. Mi-8AMTSh-VN will considerably reinforce helicopter regiments. “It was designed according to the Syrian experience for joint combat of commandos and paratroopers in enemy rear. It has to fight an army armed with modern air defense,” the Izvestia said.

The helicopter has two options: light and heavily armed. It is equipped with a new radar. Boginsky said “the radar increases the detection and identification range and precisely determines weather conditions at major distances.”

The weapons of the helicopter were improved according to Syrian experience. It carries two 12.7 mm bow machineguns, as well as new piloting and navigational equipment and an optical-electronic system. The cockpit is adapted for night vision goggles. The helicopter has a digital autopilot and onboard defense with automatic detection of missile launches. The cockpit, important units and the floor of the cargo compartment have armored protection.

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