Mi-290 Taru

Taru
Faction	CSAT Russian Spetsnaz
Type	Heavy Utility Helicopter
Seats	All variants: 3 seats: 1× Pilot 1× Co-Pilot 1× Loadmaster Bench variant: 11 seats: 8× Passengers Transport variant: 19 seats: 16× Passengers Medical variant: 7 seats: 4× Passengers
Item capacity	4000 mass
Top speed	~ 255 km/h
Service ceiling	3,700 m
Fuel capacity	2500 fuel units
Weight	Variable; see Variants section for details
Slingloadable	No (all variants)
Primary armament	None
Secondary armament	Defensive: 168x Countermeasures (Chaff/Flare)
Variants	Standard, Bench, Cargo, Ammo, Transport, Fuel, Medical, Repair
Games

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

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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

This is a premium asset that requires ownership of the Helicopters DLC.

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.

Variants

• Mi-290 Taru
• Mi-290 Taru (Bench)
• Mi-290 Taru (Cargo)
• Mi-290 Taru (Ammo)
• Mi-290 Taru (Transport)
• Mi-290 Taru (Fuel)
• Mi-290 Taru (Medical)
• Mi-290 Taru (Repair)

Baseline variant. Can slingload most (non-tracked) ground vehicles but has no other unique capabilities.

This variant has a gross weight of 20000 kg.

Carries an open-air bench that can seat up to eight passengers. Riders on all eight passenger seats can fire their own weapons from the benches. It cannot slingload vehicles.

This variant has a gross weight of 20407.2 kg.

Carries a large container that can store supplies. Cannot slingload vehicles and has the same amount of seats as the baseline variant.

This variant has a gross weight of 20999.9 kg.

Carries an ammunition supply container that can rearm nearby land vehicles and grounded aircraft. Cannot slingload vehicles and has the same amount of seats as the baseline variant.

This variant has a gross weight of 20999.9 kg.

Carries a closed troop transport pod with a retractable ramp. It can seat up to fourteen passengers, two of which can fire out of the entrance. Cannot slingload vehicles.

This variant has a gross weight of 21000 kg.

Carries a large fuel tank that can refuel nearby land vehicles and grounded aircraft. Cannot slingload vehicles and has the same amount of seats as the baseline variant.

This variant has a gross weight of 30000.1 kg.

Medevac variant. It carries a closed passenger pod with enough benches for up to three wounded soldiers and one additional attendant/flight medic. Cannot slingload vehicles.

This variant has a gross weight of 21000 kg.

Carries a large container with spare parts, tools, and components that can repair nearby land vehicles and grounded aircraft. Cannot slingload vehicles and has the same amount of seats as the baseline variant.

This variant has a gross weight of 20999.9 kg.

Camouflage

• Black
• Black - Bench
• Black - Cargo
• Black - Ammo
• Black - Transport
• Black - Fuel
• Black - Medical
• Black - Repair
• Hex
• Hex - Bench
• Hex - Cargo
• Hex - Ammo
• Hex - Transport
• Hex - Fuel
• Hex - Medical
• Hex - Repair

1/16

• 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 survive 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 resist up to 60 points of damage before rupturing. It takes 200% 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 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 incur up to 104 points of damage before failure. They receive 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 survive 60 points of damage before failing. At least 80% of damage is shared with the Mi-290's main "health" pool.

Sensors

Designed exclusively for transporting troops and cargo, the Mi-290 has only one type of sensor available:

Active Radar

The Mi-290 does not use an active radar as it completely unarmed.

Infrared Search and Track/Visual Sensor

The Mi-290 does not have the ability to detect targets visually or through IRST.

Radar Warning Receiver/Passive Radar

The RWR has a 360 degree detection radius and a target recognition range of 12 km.

Laser Spot Tracker

The Mi-290 does not have the ability to lock onto laser marks or infrared strobes.

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 13500 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):

• Ammo
• Bench
• Cargo
• Fuel
• Medical
• Repair
• Transport

Can rearm vehicles and grounded aircraft that are parked next to it.

This pod has a gross weight of 1000 kg.

Can carry up to eight passengers at a time. They are seated facing outward on opposite sides. All passengers are able to utilise FFV.

This pod has a gross weight of 500.002 kg.

Equipment storage pod pre-loaded with firearms, munitions, equipment and backpacks.

This pod has a gross weight of 1000 kg.

Can refuel nearby vehicles and grounded aircraft.

This pod has a gross weight of 10000 kg.

The pod can carry four passengers, three of whom lie on beds while the fourth sits upright. Injured human soldiers and civilians can also "use" this container to "heal" themselves by using the Treat command.

This pod has a gross weight of 1000 kg.

Can repair damaged vehicles and grounded aircraft that are positioned around it.

This pod has a gross weight of 1000 kg.

Can carry up to sixteen passengers seated on benches facing outward on opposite sides. The two passengers seated next to the ramp are able to utilise FFV, though they must first lower the ramp door before they can do so.

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".
• 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.
• 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.

Gallery

Russian Spetsnaz Mi-290.

External links

• Wikipedia: Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe
• Wikipedia: Kamov Ka-226

See also

Aircraft of comparable role and configuration

• CH-67 Huron (NATO counterpart, ArmA 3: Helicopters only)

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