Russia has deployed a heavy military transport helicopter Mi-26 from the Aerospace Forces to Mali. Photos confirming its presence were published by the observer top_force on his channel on the social network X, reports Militarniy.
Previously, there was no information about the transfer of these machines to the African country.
The helicopter is likely subordinate to the so-called “African Corps” – a structure that is de facto controlled by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Judging by the photos, it is also used to transport troops of the ruling junta that currently holds power in Mali.
The Mi-26 allows the Russians and their allies to quickly transfer significant airborne units to remote areas. In this way, they avoid risky movements overland, where the columns often come under attack by rebels.
In addition, thanks to their ability to transport armored vehicles, large amounts of ammunition and provisions in one flight, such helicopters significantly strengthen the logistics of Russian operations in the region.
Thus, the Russians also maintain combat aviation in the country. Thus, in June it became known that Russian Su-24s were deployed in Mali.
The Mi-26 is a Soviet, and now Russian, heavy military transport helicopter, which remains the largest serially produced helicopter in the world. The first flight took place in 1977, and serial production began in the early 1980s.
The main distinguishing feature of the Mi-26 is its unique load-bearing capacity. It is capable of lifting up to 20 tons of payload, which allows it to transport armored vehicles, artillery systems, building structures or large groups of military personnel.
The helicopter’s design includes an eight-bladed main shaft and two powerful turboprop engines, which ensure flight stability even at maximum load. The maximum take-off weight reaches about 56 tons, making it the heaviest mass-produced helicopter in the world.
The height of the machine is over 8 meters, and the length of the fuselage exceeds 40 meters. The diameter of the supporting shaft is approximately 32 meters.
The flight range of the helicopter depends on the load. In transport mode without additional fuel tanks, it reaches about 800 kilometers. With a reduced load or with outboard tanks, the range can be increased to 1,900–2,000 kilometers.
The cruising speed of the Mi-26 is approximately 255 kilometers per hour, and the maximum – up to 295 kilometers per hour.
Illustrative Photo by Azamat Hatypov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/tail-and-wing-of-airplane-17528690/
