Rostvertol is at the show promoting its Mi-26T2, an upgraded version of its popular heavy-lift helicopter, in the hope of securing sales to India and other potential customers. The company is appearing at the Paris Air Show for the first time since becoming part of the Russian Helicopters (Chalet B37).

Improvements include a glass cockpit, more advanced avionics and night-operations capability. The new cockpit enables crew numbers to be reduced from five to two, plus a flight engineer to operate the external sling. New air conditioning and cargo compartment heating have been fitted, which is likely to prove popular with crewmembers.

The cockpit upgrade comprises five multifunction liquid-crystal displays, a pair of PS-7 digital control panels and backup electromechanical units. A new video sensor has been added, which brings color visuals of external-load operations to the cockpit. An additional searchlight has been installed for nighttime visual operations along with an infrared lighting mode, to be used with night-vision goggles. The navigation upgrade includes an A-737 GNSS system compatible with both the U.S. GPS and Russian Glonass global positioning systems.

The Mi-26T2 features improved versions of its 11,65-shp D-136-2 turboshaft engines, now provided with full-authority digital engine control units and a contingency power rating of 12,500 at temperatures above 30 degrees C, a feature specifically aimed at operations in hot countries such as India, where the helicopter is in direct competition with the Boeing CH-47F Chinook.

Meanwhile, serial production of the Night Hunter version of the Mi-28N attack helicopter is in full swing, with 40 aircraft built to date. The first machine was delivered to the Russian Federation in 2008. The type has already taken part in several combat operations. The Mi-28NE can carry twice the rocket payload of the Mi-24, from which it is developed, and it has been given an air-to-air capability, improved armor and better survivability.