MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax-AVN) - An aviation group of Mil Mi-26 heavy transport helicopters from the Central Military District (CMD) are to re-deploy from the Uprun air base (Chelyabinsk region) to the Tiksi airfield in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), CMD spokesman Col. Yaroslav Roshchupkin told Interfax-AVN on Monday.
"The pilots are to overcome an itinerary about 4,000 kilometers long, with landings at Vorkuta, Norilsk and Khatanga. The main objective of the helicopter pilots is to help build an Arctic military town on the Kotelny Island (the New Siberian Islands archipelago)," he said.
The helicopter pilots will carry building materials, equipment and various supplies from Tiksi to the Temp airfield, he said. The assignment will last for six months. The aviation group includes engineers, as well as main and backup crews.
Mi-26 is the world's largest mass-produced transport helicopter. It has a payload capacity of 20 tonnes. The size of the helicopter allows it to be loaded with automobile and freight vehicles. It can also carry load on an external sling.