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| Image: Wiki Commons |
By Franz-Stefan Gady
New Delhi is already considering placing an order for an additional 48 Mi-17V-5 aircraft.
In late January, the Indian Air Force (IAF) received the last three out of a total order of 48 Russian-made military transport helicopters, The Economic Times reports, while according to sources with India’s Ministry of Defense, a new contract for an additional 48 aircraft could be signed within weeks.
The recent delivery brings up the total number of Mi-17V-5 helicopters procured by India to 151. (One Mi-17V-5 has been lost in 2013 during rescue operations in the north of India.) In 2008, Rosoboronexport, the Russian state intermediary agency responsible for the import and export of defense technology, signed an initial contract for the delivery of 80 Mi-17V-5 choppers to India. This was followed by the signing of contracts in 2012 and 2013 for an extra 71 Mi-17V-5 helicopters, the last three of which have now been handed over to Indian authorities. ”The helicopters were delivered on Friday, January 29,” a spokesman of Rosoboronexport told Interfax.
Produced by Russian Helicopters–Russia’s sole rotorcraft designer–at its Kazan Helicopter Plant, the Mi-17V-5 is based on the Mi-8 airframe and is one of the most advanced aircraft of the Mi-8/17 helicopter family. Every Mi-17V-5 helicopter is equipped with night vision technology, on-board weather radar, a new PKV-8 autopilot system, and a KNEI-8 avionics suite, which, according to a Russian Helicopters press release, results “in a very clear and intuitive cockpit with four large multi-functional displays that are easy to read and help reduce pilot fatigue.” The system purportedly also helps reduce pre-flight inspection time.
Read the full story at The Diplomat