First Mi-38 for Russian Federal Protective Service
A recent photo published on the russianplanes.net website reveals a newly built Mi-38 helicopter with tail number 384 at the airfield of JSC NCV Mil and Kamov (National Helicopter Center) in Tomilino (Panki) near Moscow.
According to records, this helicopter with manufacturer's serial number (msn) 26014 was completed at JSC KVZ (Kazan Helicopter Plant) at the beginning of 2021 and flew from there to Tomilino as early as in March 2021. This helicopter is based on the Mi-38T military version and upon retrofit with additional equipment it shall be put into service with the Federal Protective Service (FSO) which is part of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB RF).
This helicopter represents the 7th series Mi-38 and the 11th in overall (taking into account four prototypes OP-1 to OP-4). Back in 2019-2020, the KVZ plant delivered three Mi-38T helicopters to the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) with tail numbers 71-73 Red (msn 26001-26003) which are intended for trials and testing with the Russian Armed Forces.
At the end of 2020, KVZ handed over two Mi-38-4 helicopters built for the SLO Rossiya which is a Special Flight Detachment of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. These VIP machines with registration numbers RA-14340 and RA-14343 sport msn 26004 respectively 26006. In February 2020, the first civilian serial Mi-38-2 helicopter with registration number RA-14341 (msn 26005) was delivered to its current operator, RVS Russian helicopter systems.
Regarding future deliveries of the Mi-38, we only can refer to existing announced contracts such as the one signed with the Russian Ministry of Defence in August 2020 calling for two Mi-38s in the VIP saloon configuration, with the delivery of the first one scheduled for 2022. According to JSC Russian helicopters, until 2024, it is planned to supply 24 Mi-38 helicopters in various modifications, including some for a foreign customer.
Photo by Oleg Podkladov (russianplanes.net)