Mi-38

The Mi-38 was created by Mil and produced through Kazan Helicopters as a modern transport helicopter positioned above the Mi-8/17 family but below the heavy Mi-26. Development moved through prototype and pre-series stages before civil certification and military adaptation. The Mi-38T version reflects Russian defense interest in a transport platform with a larger cabin, higher comfort and safety standards, and more modern avionics than legacy medium helicopters.

Technically, the Mi-38 is a twin-engine medium transport helicopter with a large cabin, modern flight-navigation equipment, and performance intended for passenger, cargo, search-and-rescue, and military transport missions. Rostec has emphasized the design's payload and passenger capacity, speed, comfort, low-noise characteristics, and ability to operate where airfield infrastructure is unavailable. The military Mi-38T adapts the base design for troop movement, cargo carriage, and assault-transport support.

Operationally, the Mi-38 is not a mass replacement for the Mi-8/17 fleet. Its value is in missions where extra cabin volume, improved systems, and higher payload are useful but the Mi-26 would be excessive or unavailable. Potential roles include military transport, VIP and command movement, search and rescue, emergency services, and regional cargo movement. Its adoption has been gradual, making each delivered batch important as evidence of whether the type can move from niche platform to regular operational fleet member.