First lot of Mi-17V5 arrives in India, Aviaport
Release Date: 2011-09-30
Initial lot of Mi-17V5 helicopters has been delivered from Russia to India's Air Forces in Penjab, according to an Indian defense body"The central airbase near Chandigarh has received half-assembled helicopters on September 29", - according to a source of Interfax. "Final assembly, fitting and checks will be done by Russian specialists accompanying the helicopters".
The Indian Air Forces have been operating Mi-17 for a long time. Mi-17 is the basic helicopter of Indian Air Forces in the harsh mountain terrains of Himalayan foothill in Ladakh, Arunachal-Pradesh and Himachal-Pradesh states.
Previous supplies of the basic modification of Mi-17 to India were delivered in 2000-2004. Now, new modifications planned for use in special missions - troops and arms transport, search and rescue operations, evacuation from natural disaster areas and emergency works.
According to the commanders of India's Air Forces, the base for new helicopters was chosen with regard to the neighboring regions - China and Pakistan.
Contract for 80 Mi-17V5 helicopters worth US$1.35 bln has been made between Rosoboronexport and India's Defense Ministry in 2008. According to the latter, "as the approved schedule envisages, transfer of the first lot of the rotorcraft was to take place in March 2010, the final - by 2015".
At the same time, according to an earlier announcement by Dmitry Petrov, general director of Russian Helicopters, implementation of the contract was being delayed because the customer was undecided about the configuration of on-board equipment for a long time. After the choice was made, Russian Helicopters had to make additional tests of the Indian modification of Mi-17V5.
"Now, all issues have been settled. The contract is being implemented", - added Petrov.
Source: http://www.vzglyad.ru/ via Aviaport
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | Aviaport |
| Country: | Russian Federation |