OREANDA-NEWS The Mi-38T, manufactured at the Kazan Helicopter Plant by order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, made its first flight in the framework of the preliminary test program. It is reported by the media.

The first flight was made by test pilots of the Moscow helicopter plant named M. L. Mil of Russian Helicopters holding (part of RosTec state Corporation).

"The MI-38T, which made its first flight today, is the version that the holding and the plant, the Mile design Bureau did for the technical task, which was approved by the Ministry of defense. This helicopter is made on the basis of the civil Mi-38, the production of which is mastered at the Kazan helicopter plant, a helicopter that has virtually all the basic certificates of the Federal air transport Agency. This is a continuation, this is an entry into a new market for us. This work is very important for the holding, both for the design Bureau and for the plant, because it will ensure the loading of the enterprise, provide jobs, tax revenues to the region," said Andrey Boginsky, General Director of the Russian Helicopters holding.

According to this information, at the moment a contract for the supply of two helicopters for the Ministry of Defense has been signed - the first deliveries to the customer are planned to begin to the customer in 2019.

In addition, work is underway to promote the machine to the foreign market. "This opens up prospects for work in the foreign market, this work with our colleagues from Rosoboronexport has already begun. Together with them, we offer this type of helicopter to our foreign customers - the ministries of defence of various countries."

In the process of joint special flight tests of the system and equipment of the Mi-38T helicopter, it is planned to check for compliance with the technical requirements of the Ministry of defense. The machine is designed on the basis of the basis of the certified civilian Mi-38 with the retrofitting for the solution of the transport-landing task. In addition, it provides for the possibility of conversion into a sanitary version and the installation of additional fuel tanks in order to increase the range.

"The successful first flight of the Mi-38T is the undoubted success of the Russian helicopter industry. This is a unique machine, created entirely on the basis of domestic components. Transport modification of the Mi-38T has great potential in terms of increasing its functionality and capabilities. On its basis, various specialized versions can be created, including a helicopter for Arctic operating conditions," said Anatoly Serdyukov, industrial Director of the Rostec aviation cluster.