Russian Helicopters integrates new defensive aids suite

Russian Helicopters will integrate a defensive aids suite onto some of its military rotorcraft that it claims will make them invulnerable to attacks by air-to-air and shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles.

The President-S system – built by Rostec sister company Kret – includes a laser illumination detector, ultraviolet missile approach warning system, electro-optical electronic warfare system, decoy flares, and control system.

It will be integrated onto the Mil Mi-171Sh and Mi-17V-5 medium transports, Mi-26T2 heavy helicopter and, from 2017, Mi-28NE and Kamov Ka-52 attack helicopters.

The manufacturer says it intends to deliver 12 helicopters installed with the President-S DAS to export customers this year.

Tests are being performed using an Mi-171Sh owned by an undisclosed overseas military, says Russian Helicopters. Following the successful completion of these trials it will install President-S across a “large fleet” of the transports “directly at the base of the foreign customer”.

The manufacturer says during recent evaluations the system proved completely effective against attacks by portable air-to-ground missiles.