russian helicopter manufacturer JSC Kazan Helicopters has been tasked with producing 72 Mi-8 helicopters in 2026–2027, twice the current production rate in russia's defense industry.
Theoretically, such production levels would allow russia to offset past Mi-8 losses and potentially restore its doctrine of airborne operations. However, this raises doubts about russia's ability to ramp up Mi-8 production as planned.
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The plans outlined above are described in a report by Dallas private intelligence company, whose experts cite the minutes of a meeting attended by representatives of 40 russian defense companies and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Gennady Abramenkov.
The meeting took place on February 24, 2026, the anniversary of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In addition to production plans, the document also described financing mechanisms and advance payments for component manufacturers, as well as cooperation schemes involving JSC Russian Helicopters, JSC United Engine Corporation, JSC Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies, and other suppliers.
Under the current plan, Kazan Helicopters is scheduled to manufacture 37 Mi-8 helicopters in 2026 and 35 of the same model in 2027.
Experts at Dallas further note that if russia succeeds in implementing the plan to ramp up Mi-8 production, it would fully offset previous losses of this helicopter type during the full-scale war against Ukraine and allow it to resume planning large-scale airborne operations.
This seems particularly relevant in light of a possible russian aggression against NATO's European flank, which could occur as early as the 2027–2030s.
On the other hand, paragraph 6.3 of the minutes of the aforementioned meeting states the directive to "calculate the number of helicopters that can actually be delivered in 2026." It appears that even russian government officials question whether plans issued to enterprises in russia's defense industry are feasible.
Currently, the Mi-8 production rate at russian defense industry facilities stands at 20 units per year. This total is produced by two plants: Kazan Helicopters and the plant in Ulan-Ude.
From Defense Express we would like to note that the russian Army Aviation currently has more than 260 Mi-8 helicopters of all variants at its disposal. As of early 2022, there were more than 300 helicopters of this type.
Ivan Kyrychevskiy, serviceman of the Raid 413th Unmanned Systems Regiment, Defense Express expert.
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