Russian Helicopters, the country's sole rotorcraft designer, is reportedly planning on once again producing the helicopter that was phased out with military contraction following the fall of the Soviet Union. The amphibious helicopter is capable of landing on water and has the ability to hunt enemy submarines by dropping deep-water nuclear bombs that can take out targets within about 870 yards or about the length of eight football fields. After the Soviet Union collapse, the Mi-14s were replaced by Kamov Ka-27 helicopters as a part of military downsizing in 1992.
Thus far, Russian Helicopters has reportedly offered to modernize existing Mi-14 helicopters, as well as build new ones, for the Russian Navy as well as fire and rescue services.
The aircraft was first designed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Russian Helicopters' predecessor, in the 1960s, according to The Diplomat. It was then made in the 1970s and 1980s for Soviet Naval Aviation and a number of Russia's allies, including Cuba, Eastern Germany, Libya and Syria. There are still 44 left in service today in forces that include Georgia’s army, the Polish Naval Air Arm, and the Syrian air force, according to Flightglobal.
The helicopter can be armed with a torpedo, 12 bombs weighing 64 kilogram bombs or eight 120-kilogram bombs, and it can fly for almost six continuous hours, covering a distance of about 683 miles, according to Russia Today. It features a sleek hull and a number of modifications, including floating sponsons on its sides, which allow it to function on water.
The new version of the helicopter, according to earlier media reports, would get upgrades to its engines, avionics and targeting system. The Mi-14’s most notable achievement was successfully detecting a Western submarine, apparently from the United States, in Soviet waters toward the end of the Cold War, according to The Diplomat.
Mil Mi-14
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mi-14 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||||
| Polish Navy Mil Mi-14PL in 2011 | |||||||
| Role | Anti-submarine helicopter |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant |
| First flight | September 1969 |
| Introduction | 1975 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | Soviet Naval Aviation Russian Naval Aviation Libyan Air Force |
| Number built | 230 |
| Developed from | Mil Mi-8 |
Contents
Design and development
Formal development of an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) version of the Mil Mi-8 transport helicopter was authorised by the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee and Council of Ministers in April 1965, with the objective of replacing the Mil Mi-4 in the short-range, shore based anti-submarine role. The new helicopter was required to have an endurance of 2 hours on station at a radius of 222 kilometres (120 nmi; 138 mi) from base.[1]The new design (with the internal designation V-14) differed from the Mi-8 in having a boat-like hull similar to the Sea King, allowing it to operate off the water, and a retractable undercarriage,[N 1] with the mainwheels retracting into large sponsons on the rear of the fuselage. The helicopter was to be powered by two Klimov TV3-117MT turboshaft engines.[2] A watertight weapons bay is fitted to the centreline of the fuselage allowing internal carriage of a single torpedo or eight depth charges, while a radome housing a search radar is fitted beneath the nose.[2][3]
The first prototype V-14, converted from a Mi-8 and powered by the older and less powerful Klimov TV2-117 engines, flew on 1 August 1967.[2] Development was slowed by problems with the helicopter's avionics and due to reliability problems with the TV3-117 engines, with production at Kazan not starting until 1973, and the helicopter (now designated Mi-14) entering service on 11 May 1976.[2]
Allegedly due to the strong pressure from the United States, all Russian antisubmarine Mi-14 helicopters were decommissioned in 1996.[4] In May 2015, RT has reported that Mi-14 is being highly sought after by the Russian Black Sea and the Northern Fleets, and that Kazan Helicopter Works (KVZ) is preparing to return 10 previously decommissioned helicopters to active Russian Navy service with the production of new units beginning within five years. The initial demand was estimated at 100 helicopters.[4]
Variants
Libyan Air Force Mi-14
Georgian Mi-14
Polish Navy's Mi-14PŁ on display at Radom Air Show 2005
- V-14
- Prototype of the Mi-14 helicopter.[3]
- Mi-14PL (NATO Haze-A)
- Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, equipped with towed APM-60 MAD, OKA-2 sonobuoys and a retractable Type 12-M search radar, armed with a single AT-1 or APR-2 torpedo, one Skat nuclear depth bomb, eight depth charges.[3][5] A single Mi-14PL was used to carry out trials with the Kh-23 (NATO designation AS-7 Kerry) air-to-surface missile but this modification does not seem to have entered service.[6]
- Mi-14PLM
- Improved anti-submarine warfare version with Os'minog ASW suite, with new search radar, dipping sonar and digital computer. Limited use.[7]
- Mi-14PŁ/R
- Polish conversion of two Mi-14PŁ (Polish designation for Mi-14PL) to search and rescue version, with ASW equipment removed, developed in 2010.[8]
- Mi-14BT (NATO Haze-B)
- Mine sweeping helicopter with ASW systems removed and equipped for towing Mine Countermeasures sleds. 25–30 built, with six exported to East Germany and two to Bulgaria.[7]
- Mi-14PS (NATO Haze-C)
- Search and rescue version with search lights and sliding doors with hoist.[9]
- Mi-14PX
- Search and rescue training helicopter for the Polish Navy (unofficial designation). One Polish Mi-14PŁ helicopter was temporarily converted into the Mi-14PX, then converted back in 1996.[8]
- Mi-14PZh
- Amphibious firebuster version of Mi-14BT.[10] Conversion price about USD1M.
- Mi-14PZh Eliminator III
- Mi-14BT helicopters converted into fire fighting aircraft.
- Mi-14GP
- Conversion of Mi-14PL to 24–26 seat civil passenger transport.[10]
- Mi-14P
- 24-seat civilian transport helicopter.
Operators
By 1991, about 230 had been delivered, with exports to many Soviet allies including Bulgaria, Cuba, East Germany, Libya, Poland, and Syria.Specifications (Mi-14PL)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1992–93[15] & http://fas.org
General characteristics- Crew: 4
- Length: 18.38 m (60 ft 3 in)
- Rotor diameter: 21.29 m (69 ft 10 in)
- Height: 6.93 m (22 ft 9 in)
- Disc area: 356 m² (3,832 ft²)
- Empty weight: 11,750 kg (25,900 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 14,000 kg (30,865 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Klimov TV3-117MT turboshafts, 1,454 kW (1,950 shp) each
- Maximum speed: 230 km/h (124 kt)
- Ferry range: 1,135 km (705 mi)
- Service ceiling: 3,500 m (11,500 ft)
- Endurance with max fuel: 4 h[16]
- torpedoes, bombs and depth charges
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