Helikopternytt - AIN Defence Perspective

All-Russian Mi-38 Version To Enter Production The Russian defense ministry has decided to become the launch customer for the Mil Mi-38 medium-twin helicopter, now that a version with no foreign content has been developed. The decision was revealed at the opening of the HeliRussia 2016 expo in Moscow on May 19 by Alexander Mikheyev, general manager of Russian Helicopters. The Mi-38 has suffered protracted development, after originally being conceived in the late 1980s as a civilian helicopter seating up to 30 passengers, to replace the long-serving 24-seat Mi-8.  Mikheyev told the media that his company is working on some specific requirements for the paratrooping forces and army aviation units. “Today, the work is ongoing and shall lead us to the signing of a long-term contract,” he said. In addition to the main utility/transport version, the Russian defense ministry is said to be interested in a patrol version able to operate in extreme Arctic conditions. Read More

32 New Airbus Helicopters for UK Flying Training Airbus Helicopters has been selected to supply new helicopters for the UK’s Military Flying Training System (MFTS). It will build 29 H135s and three larger H145s for Ascent, the joint venture between Babcock and Lockheed Martin that is managing the MFTS under a public-private partnership agreed eight years ago.  A new contract awarded to Ascent by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) provides rotary-wing training from April 2018 until 2033 and is worth £1.1 billion. In addition to the new helicopters, the contract provides for new training infrastructure, simulators and more than one-third of the instructors at RAF Shawbury, home of the UK’s Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS). Ascent will provide 59 of the 161 instructors for the new system. The DHFS is currently run by FB Heliservices, a subsidiary of Cobham, using AS350 Squirrels and Bell 412 Griffins. Cobham was the losing contender for the new rotary-wing MFTS, having proposed Leonardo-Finmeccanica helicopters, reportedly the AW109 and AW139.  Read More