ULAN-UDE. March 24 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian army demand for Mil Mi-8AMTSh-AV Arctic-class helicopters may reach one hundred, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told reporters on Tuesday.
"I think we will need several dozen vehicles, up to a hundred," Borisov said, answering a question about the Russian army demand for Arctic-class helicopters.
The Defense Ministry ordered the Ulan-Ude plant of Russian Helicopters Holding last year to build a trial batch of five Arctic-class helicopters.
"We have seen the first helicopter [at the workshop] today. It will be supplied this year and we will see its value," said Borisov who visited the Ulan-Ude Aircraft Plant on Tuesday.
The army will need Arctic-class helicopters, the deputy minister continued. "We have been actively developing the Arctic element. Exercises have been held [in the Arctic]. Vehicles capable of accomplishing their missions any time are definitely in demand," the deputy minister said.
Standard hardware needs to be adjusted to the Arctic conditions, he said. "Hardware has to operate under extreme conditions in the Arctic: subzero temperatures fall below 40-50 degrees Celsius, winds are high and weather patterns are challenging," Borisov remarked.
Helicopters have to be adapted to these conditions, he added.