In Russia, they plan to replace the legendary series of Mi-8/17 helicopters with new Mi-80s by 2030. Military expert Brandon J. Weichert, in an article for The National Interest, doubted that the developers would be able to cope with this task within the specified time frame.
The Mi-80 is considered a new generation helicopter that will help standardize production, optimize logistics, and reduce maintenance costs.
The Mi-80 is planned to be produced at the Kazan Helicopter Plant and the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant. It will be developed on the basis of the Mi-171A3 platform.
It is assumed that the helicopter will have a reinforced fuselage made using polymer materials, which will increase its strength and reduce weight. The rotor blades will be made of composites. In addition, the Mi-80 will receive an X-shaped tail rotor and impact-resistant fuel tanks.
The new rotorcraft will be equipped with more powerful engines and modern avionics, Weichert added. At the same time, he does not rule out that the implementation of the project may be delayed. The expert associates potential risks with insufficient funding and structural problems in the Russian defense sector.
For years, the Russian defense industry has suffered from fragmented production lines and dependence on outdated Soviet-era platforms. These limitations cast doubt on Russia's ability to fully fund and develop the Mi-80 within the stated timeframe.
Read more on the topic:
Goodbye, Mi-8, hello, Mi-80: the "super-eight" helicopter will appear in Russia
