[2] The Mi-6 resulted from a joint civil-military requirement for a very large vertical-lift aircraft, which could be used to add mobility in military operations as well as assist in the exploration and development of the expansive central and eastern regions of the USSR.

[3] From 1959 to 1972 at least 500 units were built for various general-transport, utility, firefighting and flying-crane duties, the last two sub-types not being fitted with the large fixed wings, which in other versions bear part of the lift in cruising flight and thus enable higher speeds to be attained.

In exercises, fleets of these aircraft have airlifted many kinds of weapons, including FROG-7 rockets on their PT-76 tracked chassis, as well as large radars and heavy artillery.

[2] The Mi-6 was finally retired in October 2002 with its Type Certificate Revoke by The CIS Interstate Aviation Committee after the crash of RA-21074 in the Taimyr Peninsula.

[2] Data from: Mil's heavylift helicopters : Mi-6, Mi-10, V-12 and Mi-26[2] Former operators: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan[citation needed] Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1992–93,[23] Mil's heavylift helicopters : Mi-6, Mi-10, V-12 and Mi-26[2]General characteristics Performance Armament The navigator's station can be equipped with a 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Afanasev A-12.7 machine-gun with up to 270 rounds