The Russian Defence Ministry placed an order for eight Ansat-U military helicopters in 2009–2010, becoming the initial launch customer of the variant. On 1 March 2011, it ordered another 32 Ansat-U helicopters. Under a third contract signed on 5 June 2017, ten more Ansat-U helicopters were ordered. Russian Air Force received the last batch of Ansat-U helicopters on 20 December 2017. All Ansat helicopters of the Russian Air Force are operated by the Syzran Higher Military Aviation School, a branch of the Zhukovsky – Gagarin Air Force Academy.