MOSCOW, January 19 (AVN) - The Ulan-Ude aircraft plant located in the southern Siberian autonomous republic of Biryatia has completed state tests of the MI-8AMTSh Hip transport and attack helicopter, a spokesman for the plant's Moscow office told the Military News Agency on Friday.
According to him, the Interprofavia company has taken part in financing the helicopter's design and tests.
Currently the plant negotiates with undisclosed foreign partners on the new helicopter's supplies and the modernisation of Hip-type helicopters that serve in some countries on the MI-8AMTSH standards.
The new aircraft can airlift up to 26 paratroopers and be used as a gunship as well. Its sighting system allows to use various types of armament, including the Shturm-B system with Ataka anti-tank missiles.
The helicopter can also be armed with Igla-B air-to-air guided missiles.
Besides, MI-8AMTSh has additional armour, and protection its front and rear hemispheres is provided by a 7.62mm PKT machine-gun. The helicopter has six swivel systems. MI-8AMTSh can be transformed in a transport, airborne or sanitary helicopter in an hour.