MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Mi-8AMTSh-VA, a modified version of the Mi-8 medium twin-turbine transport helicopter, is based on an upgraded Mi-8AMTSh-V with improved turboshaft engines and avionics upgrades.
"The first ‘Arctic’ unit will be handed over to the customer in late November. The next Mi-8AMTSh-VAs will be delivered as part of the state defense order starting in 2016," Russian Helicopters said.
The Russian Defense Ministry signed a five-year delivery contract in February, the company said. It added that flight tests have been conducted at its factory in the south-central Russian city of Ulan-Ude in the Republic of Buryatia, where the helicopters were manufactured.
Russia unveiled a strategy to boost its presence in the Arctic, believed to hold vast oil and natural gas reserves, two years ago.
