Page 36 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

10 mabr at Kul’bakino

Mi-8MSB-V ‘43 Yellow’ during a regular training flight at Kul’bakino in mid-
September last year, a month after delivery. Note the two weapons racks, with
three pylons each (for gun pods, rocket pods and bombs) – as found on the Mi-8MT.
Also notable are the armour plates around the cockpit (additional armour is fitted
to the floor and cockpit seats), as well as the characteristic new ASh-01V exhaust
gas di usion system for the engine exhausts – seen here in its stowed position to

reduce drag (it can be deployed rapidly by the pilots when necessary). The KT-01AV
jammer is immediately behind the main rotor and a pair of KUV 26-50-02 cha /flare

dispensers is fitted below the tail boom. All photos Sergey Smolentsev unless stated
Ukrainian Naval

AviationUPDATE

an update on the status of the U 10 mors’ka aviatsiyna brihada (10 addition to multiple avionics updates (including
Vladimir Trendafilovski provides kraine’s sole naval aviation unit, the at Zaporizhzhya in southeastern Ukraine. In
mabr, 10th Naval Aviation Brigade)
Ukrainian Navy’s single aviation unit at Kul’bakino air base near Mykolayiv (see Garmin satnav equipment) aimed at bringing
them fully up to date, the helicopters have
– the 10th Naval Aviation Brigade at Crimea’s Unsung Heroes, September 2015, been upgraded with two new TV3-117VMA-
Kul’bakino air base near Mykolayiv p76), has received new equipment in the SBM1V (series 4E) engines, each with a take-
– which has recently received new form of two Mi-8MSB-V helicopters. off power of 1,500hp (1,119kW). Their weapons
rotary and fixed-wing equipment. Originally completed as Mi-8T models, the two load and equipment inventory are identical to
Hips were modernised at the Motor Sich plant that of the newer Mi-8MT series, and battlefield
survivability has been improved with the fitting
of additional armour plating, a KT-01AV infrared
surface-to-air missile (SAM) jammer, an ASh-
01V exhaust gas diffusion system and a pair
of KUV 26-50-02 chaff/flare dispensers.
The first of the two, Mi-8MSB-V c/n 9744307,
coded ‘43 Yellow’, was delivered in early August,
a week ahead of the 15th anniversary of the
unit’s establishment. It was originally coded
‘44 Red’ with the Ukrainian Army Aviation
unit at Chornobayivka air base near Kherson.
The second identical helicopter, coded ‘44
Yellow’, was delivered in October but its
original identity has not yet been established.
It is worth noting that 10 mabr has
had Mi-8s on strength officially since its
creation back in 2004, but these are its first
The unit’s SAR Be-12PS ‘05 Yellow’ (c/n 2602603) sits in a protected hardstand in mid-September – shortly
before it was sent to the local NARP aircraft repair facility to undergo repair and maintenance. The Be-12s are operational examples, the others having
considered active and are regularly maintained – both by the unit and at NARP – although none of them has been in storage when inherited by the unit.
flown since September 2014. However, the latter’s crews have been quick

36 // February 2020 #383 www.Key.Aero

03/01/2020 11:50:17
36-38 UkraineNavy AFM Feb2020.indd 36 03/01/2020 11:50:17
36-38 UkraineNavy AFM Feb2020.indd 36