Some clarification of the Mi-30 program comes in Take-Off (Vzlet) magazine, October 2006 issue.
Origins date back to 1972. Initially conceived as successor to Mi-8 with 19 passengers or 2t cargo. TV3-117 engines specified, with 11m diameter rotors. Weight was 10,600kg, speed 500-600km/h and range 800km.
Later on, the project had grown to a payload of 3-5t or 32 passengers, with TV3-117F engines and 12.5m diameter rotors with weight now 15,500kg.
Through the early 1980s size and powerplant fluctuated, with D-136, TV7-117 and D-27 propfans mentioned and weights of 11, 20 and 30t.
By 1991 three projects were under consideration: Mi-30S (3.2t payload, 20 passengers), Mi-30D (2.5t payload, 11 passengers), and Mi-30L (0.95t payload, 7 passengers). The largest version (13t) used TV7-117 turboprops with the smallest (3.75t) using the Al-34.