Korova

The hulking Mi-26 is a relic of the Cold War, designed in the late 1970s with enough cabin space and lift capacity to move ballistic missiles.

With a cargo capacity of 20,000kg and a length of over 40 metres, the Mi- 26 has roughly the same cargo space as a C-130 Hercules. In fact, various Mi-26 helicopters in-theatre have been used to slingload downed mediumlift helos, such as Chinooks.

Although Australia had, until recently, a helicopter-lift capability deployed to Afghanistan in the form of two CH-47D Chinooks from 5 Aviation Regiment, these were formally under ISAF control through a status of command agreement sign a few years ago. The Mi-26, however, is strictly controlled by the ADF.

“The Mi-26 is tasked by the ADF to conduct operational and tactical heavy lift rotary-wing cargo services. The Mi-26 operates in accordance with all International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) requirements for operating rotary wing services in Afghanistan,” a Defence spokesperson told Australian Aviation.

“The ADF requires the Mi-26 to conduct operational and tactical heavylift rotary-wing cargo services to transport combat support equipment, vehicles and supplies in support of ADF force elements in southern Afghanistan.

The Mi-26 was initially contracted to conduct resupply from Tarin Kot to forward operating bases in Uruzgan province to reduce the risk of ADF convoys conducting resupply by road and encountering improvised explosive devices,” the spokesperson said.

“The Mi-26 is now used to assist in facilitating the reverse supply chain process from Tarin Kot to Kandahar, where equipment or supplies can be disposed of or transported by large, fixed-wing aircraft such as An-124s to their end destination. ” The Mi-26 contract was signed in December 2010 and the aircraft commenced operating on March 12 2011 with a two-hour movement of cargo that would have taken two days for a ground convoy to complete.

That initial contract expired on December 31 2012 but was re-tendered and signed the same month to commence services from January 2013 for six months.

The ADF requires the Mi-26 to conduct operational and tactical heavylift rotarywing cargo services.

“This contract included three four-month extension options. Defence has exercised the first two options and extended the Mi-26 contract until February 2014,” the Defence spokesperson said.

The contract is valued at approximately $9 million for the initial six months, with the final figure due to be published on AusTender in due course. For that sum, the contractor is responsible for operating and maintaining the Mi-26, with those costs included in the price of the contract.

“The contract provides the ADF with 50 block flying hours per month, with the ability to surge this to 88 hours if required. The contractor is also responsible for loading/unloading the Mi-26, but the ADF may assist the contractor in this task at its discretion. ” ADF personnel are strictly banned from flying on the Mi-26, some personnel citing concerns for the regularity and sufficiency of the contractor’s maintenance regime, a case Defence strictly denies. “The ADF contract for the Mi-26 relates to the transport of stores and equipment only. The ISAF Aviation Task Force assigned to Regional Command – South supports movement of personnel by helicopter,” the spokesperson said.

Regardless, the Mi-26 is conducting operations as part of the operational retrograde, moving cargo and stores around Uruzgan province, specifically from Multi-National Base – Tarin Kot to Kandahar Airfield, for onward transportation to Al Minhad Air Base in UAE by fixed-wing cargo assets such as C-17 and C-130. The work reduces the need for slow, high-risk ground movements and eases the workload on the air bridge to AMAB by taking cargo that first step in the long journey home.