Ukraine takes Mi-8MSB into service

In April 2014, acting Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhaylo Koval signed a decree introducing the Mil Mi-8 military transport helicopter into service with the national armed forces. The aircraft, a re-engined version of the Mi-8T helicopter, is fitted with a pair of TV3-117VMA-SBM1V 1 Series engines.

The new turboshaft engine was developed by Ukrainian powerplant specialist Motor Sich from the TV3-117VMA-SBM1 turboprop model, which powers the Antonov An-140 fixed-wing aircraft. The aim of the upgrade was to improve the Mi-8’s hot-and-high performance. The engine has an extended service life of 5,000 h/5,000 cycles TBO, against the previous TV3-117 modification’s 2,000 h/2,000 cycles.

Motor Sich representatives say the TV3-117VMA-SBM1V underwent flight tests on a Mil Mi-8MTV-5-1 testbed at Moscow Mil Helicopter Plant in 2012. In April 2013, the Russian Defense Ministry held successful joint flight tests at the Torzhok combat evaluation center. A single Mi-8MSB fitted with a pair of TV3-117VMA-SBM1Vs is currently in operation with the Belarusian carrier Orsha Air. The TV3-117VMA-SBM1V engine is represented at HeliRussia 2014 by the Series 1, 2, 4, and 4E versions. Motor Sich says all these modifications have already been certificated, including the Series 4 air-start and 4E electric-start versions; the latter two variants are intended as re-engining solutions for in-service Mi-8T and Mi-8MSB helicopters. TV3-117VMA-SBM1V engines can also be fitted on Mil Mi-24 gunships and on the experimental Kamov Ka-137 UAV. Motor Sich is currently bench-testing the engines with different FADEC options.

In 2012, TV3-117VMA-SBM1V Series 4E engines were test-flown on the upgraded Mi-8MSB helicopter. In June 2013, Motor Sich successfully bench-tested the TV3-117VMA-SBM1V Series 4/4E modifications in the interests of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. Also last year, a Mil Mi-8MSB powered by TV3-117VMA-SBM1V Series 4E engines set a world altitude record by climbing to 9,150 m.