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Russia Russian Helicopters
Mi-26
The world's largest and most powerful helicopter in operational service, an eight-blade heavy-lift transport capable of carrying armored vehicles and downed aircraft. Used by the Russian military and civil operators for heavy cargo missions.
In service since 1983 · 12 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
295
km/h
800
km range
4,600
m ceiling
Pricing: No public modern unit cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Established · 12 operators
In service since 1983. Status: active · ~316 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 295 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 255 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 800 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 4,600 m |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 33.73 m |
|---|---|
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 8.15 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 28,200 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 56,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 5 |
| Cargo payload Maximum cargo the transport can carry. Higher means more lift per sortie. | 20,000 kg |
| Troop capacity Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more. | 82 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x Lotarev/Progress D-136 turboshafts |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 11,400 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboshaft |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 316 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 12 |
Specifications compiled from public Russian Helicopters and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Mi-26 vs
Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Russian Helicopters Mi-26? +
The Russian Helicopters Mi-26 has a maximum speed of 295 km/h.
What is the range of the Russian Helicopters Mi-26? +
The Russian Helicopters Mi-26 has a maximum range of 800 km.
How much does the Russian Helicopters Mi-26 weigh? +
The Russian Helicopters Mi-26 has a combat weight of 56,000 kg.
How many crew does the Russian Helicopters Mi-26 require? +
The Russian Helicopters Mi-26 requires a crew of 5.
What engine does the Russian Helicopters Mi-26 use? +
The Russian Helicopters Mi-26 is powered by the 2x Lotarev/Progress D-136 turboshafts.
What is the Russian Helicopters Mi-26 used for? +
The Russian Helicopters Mi-26 is a helicopter typically used for isr.
How many countries operate the Russian Helicopters Mi-26? +
The Russian Helicopters Mi-26 is operated by 12 countries.
How much does the Russian Helicopters Mi-26 cost? +
Russian Helicopters Mi-26: No public modern unit cost. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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