Russian NW.17 helicopter aims to redefine battlefield support
The Russian design bureau, Heliburo, has unveiled a project for a new military helicopter, the NW.17. This versatile aircraft, capable of executing transport and soldier support missions on the battlefield, is slated for its maiden flight in 2027. What do we know about it?
3:32 PM EST, November 21, 2024
The Russians have completed the conceptual and preliminary design phases of the NW.17 helicopter. It is intended to bridge the gap between light helicopters, like the Ansat, and heavy transport helicopters, such as the Mi-26.
This new aircraft is being developed at the Heliburo design bureau. Its visualizations were first shared on the Telegram service on the Fighterbomber profile, which is managed by a former Russian military pilot.
According to Army Recognition, the overall concept of the NW.17 resembles Western multi-role helicopters like the American Black Hawk and the European NH90. These helicopters are capable of performing both transport and ground support missions. The visualization shows the helicopter equipped with rocket launchers.
The new NW.17 helicopter
The transport capabilities of the NW.17 are enhanced—similarly to the Mi-17—by a transport ramp at the rear of the fuselage. Partially retractable landing gear improves the aircraft's aerodynamics. The helicopter is expected to feature a hybrid drive and a "combined" control system, although the specifics are currently unknown.
Russia, having suffered significant losses in its helicopter fleet due to the war in Ukraine, is striving to modernize existing machines. This includes upgrading them with new avionics, targeting systems, and integrating them with new weapons, as seen in the cases of the Ka-52M and LMUR missiles, or through more substantial upgrades like improved engines, radar systems, or self-defense systems in the Mi-28NM helicopter.
Multirole helicopters are also being enhanced. The Mi-26T2W is a variant with upgraded avionics and defense systems, while the Mi-38T, delivered in single units, aims to replace aging helicopters from the Mi-8/Mi-17 family.
The timeline for introducing the new helicopter
In this context, the pursuit of bringing a completely new machine, developed according to contemporary principles, into service appears fully justified. Although Heliburo claims the prototype will fly as early as 2027, the process can take over 20 years from project completion and first flight to the equipment's introduction into service.
An example is the Russian light helicopter Ansat, developed as a successor to the Mi-2. Although it first flew in 1999, its official induction into service didn't occur until 2013, and so far, no more than 90 units have been produced for all customers.
