Mi-38

The Mil Mi-38 was conceived as a replacement for the Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters. Development efforts by Kazan Helicopters began in the early 1980s, with a mockup first showcased at the 1989 Paris Air Show. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazan Helicopters collaborated with Eurocopter to adapt the Mi-38 for the international market, leading to the establishment of Euromil JSC in September 1994. Sextant and Pratt & Whitney Canada were brought on board as suppliers for avionics and powerplant equipment. On 18 August 1999, a contract was signed for the completion of the first demonstrator. Testing of the Mi-38's rotor blades occurred on a Mi-17 in 2001. The first Mi-38 demonstrator (PT-1) achieved its maiden flight on 22 December 2003, taking off above the Kazan Helicopters plant. The second prototype (OP-2), powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127/TS engines, first flew on 2 December 2010. Rosaviatsiya certified the Mi-38 on 30 December 2015, paving the way for production.

Design

Prototypes have been powered by different engines; Western versions use Pratt & Whitney PW127TS engines while Russian versions incorporate Klimov TV7-117V engines. The second prototype was equipped with the IBKO-38 or IBKV-38 aviation complex, developed by Transas Aviation, featuring a glass cockpit concept. The military variant, Mi-38T, is designed with all-Russian components, including engines and avionics, due to international sanctions. The specifications indicate a capacity for a 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) internal payload and a 7,000 kg (15,000 lb) external payload.

Operational History

Since its certification in 2015, the Mi-38 has seen limited operational use. The Russian Defence Ministry took delivery of its first two serial Mi-38s in December 2019 and planned to acquire approximately 15 helicopters by 2020. A military variant, the Mi-38T, tailored to meet specific requirements of the Russian MoD and featuring exclusively Russian-made components, performed its maiden flight in November 2018. In January 2020, orders were placed by an export customer from the Middle East for Mi-38Ts configured for both transport and increased passenger comfort, with deliveries expected in 2021-2022. Domestically, the RF Defense Ministry ordered additional Mi-38s in August 2020, configured with increased cabin comfort, while the Ministry of Emergency Situations ordered nine in August 2021. In 2023, the government of Zimbabwe received an Mi-38 helicopter. By March 2024, Kolyma Aviation introduced two Mi-38 helicopters into commercial service, operating flights within the Magadan Oblast.

Variants

Main Variants:

• Mi-38-1: The Western version of the Mi-38, distinguished by its Pratt & Whitney PW127TS engines and demonstrated high-altitude flight capabilities during testing, reaching above 8,000 m (26,000 ft).

• Mi-38-2: This is the Russian variant of the Mi-38, utilizing Klimov TV7-117V engines.

• Mi-38T: A Russian military version of the Mi-38, designed to meet specific requirements of the Russian Ministry of Defense, incorporating domestically produced components including engines and avionics.