The Mi-290 Taru is a heavy-lift utility helicopter used by both CSAT forces and the Russian Spetsnaz in ArmA 3. It was added with the release of the Helicopters DLC.
Overview[]
- Roles:
- Heavy-lift utility helicopter
- Troop transport
- Vehicle repair
- Refuelling
- Vehicle munitions rearmament
- Aeromedical evacuation
| « | The Mi-290 Taru is a heavy utility helicopter with coaxial rotors and a unique modular construction. Various mission pods allow the Taru to serve many different roles. It can transport cargo, troops, and provide battlefield supplies (ammunition, fuel, repair facilities, and medical equipment). The helicopter can also transport light vehicles thanks to its sling loading capabilities. Field Manual
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Design[]
The Mi-290 is a twin-engine, heavy-lift utility helicopter that uses a distinctive coaxial rotor system which removes the need for a tail rotor. It is unique for its ability to utilise interchangeable mission pods, which grant the Mi-290 a diverse array of performable roles, from transporting troops into battle, to providing air medical services.
Features
It is available in up to eight variants, each variant featuring a mission pod that is fixed to the Mi-290's fuselage, which is where the passenger cabin would be on a conventional helicopter.
Aside from the standard version with no attached pod, these variants range from a munitions carrier, with an ammunition container attached; a troop transport variant, with a fixed open-air bench pod; a supply carrier, with a cargo container; a fuel tanker; a medical transport pod, with stretchers; a vehicle repair pod; and another troop transport variant, with a closed pod instead of open benches.
Open bench variant of the Mi-290 with a full squad loaded and in combat.
Unlike its NATO counterpart which is specialised exclusively as a troop transport with moderate slingloading capabilities (and uses a more traditional helicopter design), the Mi-290's unique mission pod capability allows it to do much more than just transport troops.
Mobility
It is slightly slower than the Huron, but features much better manoeuvrability and a more compact airframe. It can transport troops and lift cargo to and from smaller landing zones as a result.
Drawbacks
One consequence of its multi-role capability is that it comes at the cost of armament. While the Mi-290 does possess countermeasures and an RWR to ward-off and notify (respectively) the crew of anti-air threats, it's completely helpless should it come under fire from surface-to-air missiles and cannon fire. This necessitates the need for an escort when operating in hostile territory, as unlike the Huron it cannot defend itself from enemy threats.
Another downside is the exposed and unarmoured cockpit, which does little to protect the pilot and the crew from small arms fire; even medium calibre weapons like the Mk200 or the Mk-I EMR can penetrate the windows.
Lastly, the Mi-290 shares the same electronic signature flaws of the Mi-48 attack helicopter. It is easy to detect on active radars as well as on infrared, meaning it can always be seen on both sensors at distances of 20% more than their default maximum ranges, further compounding its survivability issues.
Crew Capacity
All variants always have at least three seats for the crew that consists of the pilot, co-pilot, and a loadmaster.
It should be noted that Mi-290s with transport pods attached are specifically the only variants which have the ability to ferry passengers. The baseline heavy-lift configuration is not able carry any passengers.
Variants[]
Transport[]
This variant has a gross weight of 20000 kg.
This variant has a gross weight of 20407.2 kg.
This variant has a gross weight of 21000 kg.
Logistics[]
This variant has a gross weight of 20999.9 kg.
This variant has a gross weight of 20999.9 kg.
This variant has a gross weight of 30000.1 kg.
This variant has a gross weight of 21000 kg.
This variant has a gross weight of 20999.9 kg.
Camouflage[]
- Black: Pattern-less chrome black paint scheme. Applied onto Russian Spetsnaz and Pacific CSAT Mi-290s.
- Hex: Light tan/dark tan/dark green cell pattern camouflage. Exclusive to Mediterranan CSAT Mi-290s.
Protection[]
All variants of the Mi-290 have base armour values of 40.
Hull[]
Hull damage is calculated based on the integrity of other components on the Mi-290. Until all other parts of the helicopter have been critically damaged, the hull itself can never be "destroyed".
Engines[]
Each of the Mi-290's engines can withstand up to 80 points of damage (there are two in total). They take 200% increased damage from high-explosive (HE) type munitions.
If damaged: Reduced power output and makes it difficult to gain both speed and altitude.
If destroyed: Can potentially blow up the Mi-290 instantly if overall status of helicopter is at critical.
Fuel tank[]
The Mi-290's fuel tank can withstand up to 60 points of damage before it ruptures. It takes 200% additional damage from HE-type weapons.
Rupturing the Mi-290's fuel tank will not result in a total loss unless the helicopter's damage levels are already at critical.
Instruments[]
Consists of the pilot/gunner flight instruments, Multi-Functional Displays (MFD) and Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD). They can only take a meagre 6 points of damage before they begin failing.
If damaged: Occasional flickering of MFDs and crew HMDs. Other instruments unaffected.
If destroyed: MFDs and HMDs disabled. Instruments may not display proper readings.
Main rotors[]
The coaxial rotors can take up to 104 points of damage before they begin suffering from failure. They take 200% increased damage from HE-type munitions.
Disabling either one of the rotors will significantly increase the difficulty of controlling the Mi-290's yaw/pitch. If both are disabled, the Mi-290 will lose the ability to maintain its altitude completely.
Transmission[]
The main rotor transmission can a maximum of 60 points of damage before it fails. At least 80% of incoming damage will always be shared with the Mi-290's main "health" pool.
Sensors[]
Designed exclusively for transporting troops and cargo, the Mi-290 has only one passive-type sensor available:
| Sensor type | Max range (Air/Ground) | Min range (Air/Ground) | Affected by environment? | Target max speed (km/h) | Azimuth coverage (°) | Elevation coverage (°) | Friendly identification range (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passive | A: 16,000 m G: 16,000 m |
A: 16,000 m G: 16,000 m |
Nothing | 1e+10 km/h | 360° | 360° | 12,000 m |
Passive Radar[]
The Mi-290's Passive Radar can detect Active Radar threats in any direction (regardless of the helicopter's facing direction).
FFV[]
- Main article: Firing from vehicles (mechanic)#Mi-290 Taru
Slingloading[]
- Main article: Slingloading#Mi-290 Taru
The Mi-290 has a maximum weight capacity of 13,500 kg and is able to slingload and transport a variety of vehicles and equipment.
The Mi-290's lifting abilities greatly exceed the vehicle transport version of the Y-32. As such, the Mi-290 is the only CSAT vehicle that is able to airlift Ifrits (both armed and unarmed), SDVs, armed boats, and UGVs.
Once again, it should be noted that only the standard Mi-290 is able to slingload cargo. The Ammo, Bench, Cargo, Fuel, Medical, Repair, and Transport variants do not retain the ability to slingload any payloads since they already have pods affixed to their fuselage.
For personnel transportation, all Mi-290 variants that can slingload transportation pods can carry up to sixteen passengers, while the bench variant can carry up to eight passengers. The Mi-290 medical variant is able to transport one flight medic in a seat and has stretchers for up to three casualties in its pod.
Supply pods[]
NOTE: Only one pod may be slung at any given moment. Pods can be destroyed if they are struck by anti-structure munitions or are caught in the blast zone of large explosives.
Mi-290 variants which do not have supply pods already fixed onto their fuselage are able to slingload pods instead. These allow those variants specifically to gain logistical capability (albeit not innately):
This pod has a gross weight of 1000 kg.
This pod has a gross weight of 500.002 kg.
This pod has a gross weight of 1000 kg.
This pod has a gross weight of 10000 kg.
This pod has a gross weight of 1000 kg.
This pod has a gross weight of 1000 kg.
This pod has a gross weight of 1000 kg.
Trivia[]
- The Taru appears to be based on a combination of two real-world airframes, the Sikorsky "CH-54 Tarhe" and the Kamov "Ka-226".
- Taru helicopters were initially exclusive to CSAT forces, though the non-canonical First Contact campaign would also show it in use with the Russian Spetsnaz.[1][note 1]
- While it isn't a usable unit like the CH-67 Huron, the Mi-290 makes an appearance in Mobile Ops where it serves as a non-controllable logistics helicopter that ferries resources to the player's Supply and Fuel Plants.
- At launch, it was possible for the loadmaster to get stuck whenever they attempted to dismount from the helicopter. This was fixed after the release of Game Update 1.36.[2]
- The patch also fixed an issue with the helicopter's model that would cause it the airframe bounce. This was triggered if it was flown by a human player with the Advanced Flight Model (AFM) active.[2]
- Before Game Update 1.66, the Taru's supply pods had significantly less "supplies" for vehicles to resupply from (i.e. ammo pods would deplete almost instantly after rearming only half of the Sandstorm's rockets).[3]
- Prior to the release of the Tanks DLC, the Taru only had a maximum slingloading weight of 12,000 kg which allowed the Taru to carry the basic transporter versions of the Zamak family but not the heavier Ammo, Medical, and Repair variants.
- This was later refactored with the release of Game Update 1.82 which increased its total capacity by 1,500 kg and finally enabled it to lift the other variants of the Zamak truck (though it is still unable to lift both the Fuel and Water variants). Meanwhile, its former weight limit of 12,000 kg was transferred to the NATO CH-67 Huron instead.[4]
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Not available outside of the First Contact campaign.
References[]
- ↑ ARMA 3: Contact 2019 [Video Game], Bohemia Interactive a.s., First Contact, Elimination Coda, "RUSSIAN PILOT: Shashka. Ladya 1. Panel's green and your chalk is in, good to go. Over. SEVEROV: Take them home, over. RUSSIAN PILOT: Copy, Shashka. Clear left. Clear right. Collective up, Ladya 1 is RTB. Out."
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 van 't Land, J.J. 2014, SPOTREP #00037, Arma 3, viewed 28 November 2023, <https://dev.arma3.com/post/spotrep-00037>.
- ↑ Kovařič, V 2016, SPOTREP #00062, Arma 3, viewed 28 November 2023, <https://dev.arma3.com/post/spotrep-00062>.
- ↑ Kovařič, V 2018, SPOTREP #00079, Arma 3, viewed 1 May 2023, <https://dev.arma3.com/post/spotrep-00079>.
External links[]
See also[]
Aircraft of comparable role and configuration[]
- CH-67 Huron (NATO counterpart, ArmA 3: Helicopters only)
 CSAT - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
| |
|---|---|
| Wheeled | Ifrit (HMG, GMG) • MSE-3 Marid • Qilin (Minigun, AT) • Quadbike • Tempest (Ammo, Device, Fuel, Medical, Repair, Transport Covered) • UGV Saif (RCWS) • Zamak (Ammo, Fuel, Medical, Repair, Transport Covered) |
| Tracked | 2S9 Sochor • Akinaka ED-1D (Sayyah ED-1E) • BTR-K Kamysh • T-100 Varsuk (X Futura) • T-140 Angara (T-140K) • ZSU-39 Tigris |
| Rotor-wing | Jinaah AL-6 (Medical) • Mi-48 Kajman • Mi-290 Taru (Ammo, Bench, Cargo, Fuel, Medical, Repair, Transport) • PO-30 Orca (Unarmed) • Tayran AR-2 |
| Fixed-wing | K40 Abalil-3 • KH-3A Fenghuang • To-199 Neophron • To-201 Shikra (Stealth) • Y-32 Xi'an (Infantry Transport, Vehicle Transport) |
| Aquatic | Assault Boat (Rescue) • Speedboat HMG • SDV |
| Parenthesis denote variants. Helicopters DLC | Apex DLC | Jets DLC | Laws of War DLC | Tanks DLC | Contact DLC | |
 Russian Spetsnaz - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
| |
|---|---|
| Rotor-wing | Mi-48 Kajman • Mi-290 Taru • PO-30 Orca |
| Fixed-wing | To-201 Shikra |
| Helicopters DLC | Jets DLC | |