IAF moves proposal to acquire 48 Mi 17 choppers from Russia to strengthen transport fleet

[anant_s]

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force has moved a proposal to spend $1.1b (Rs 6,980 cr) to acquire more mediumlift choppers from Russia in a move that would go against the grain of the 'Make in India' concept but offer a vital addition to its transport fleet.

The hardy Mi 17 V5, it seems, will continue to rule the Indian skies as 48 of the choppers are likely to be procured under a repeat order. The new choppers, which will serve in terrains ranging from the desert to high-altitude locations along the China and Pakistan border, will be added to the IAF fleet of 139 Mi 17 V5s that form the backbone of the IAF transport operations.
Sources said the Air Force recently moved the plan that includes maintenance facilities for the choppers as well as an offset obligation of 30%. The operationally proven choppers are much-needed replacements for the older Mi 8 transporters that have reached the end of their service life.

At least six of the new choppers being ordered are replacements for machines that were diverted to the Air HQ Communications Squadron last year for flying the President, Prime Minister and visiting dignitaries.

IAF moves proposal to acquire 48 Mi 17 choppers from Russia to strengthen transport fleet - The Economic Times

 

[Imran Khan]

MIs will stay around damn more and more years .

 

[Archie]

These beast are robust, and good for carrying troops and Material in the Himalayas.

Since it doesn't look like that we will get LUHs anytime soon, so it is better to augment the Mi17V5 fleet, which can do much more than the LUHs

 

[sudhir007]

i dnt know why GOI set the helicopter assembly line in India we already have 139 and ordering more and more.

 

[Jamwal's]

This v5 is it any different from older MI 17s in service ?

 

[Archie]

This v5 is it any different from older MI 17s in service ?

Mi17V5 were inducted starting year 2010
80 of the 139 Mi17V5 currently on ordered are armed.
Russia have delivered 121 Mi17V5 till now.

 

[Abingdonboy]

This v5 is it any different from older MI 17s in service ?

The V5 features many improvements to earlier variants (many are minor design tweaks), the most notable and important are improved avionics (a full, NVG compatible, glass cockpit).



An expected move- the IAF has around 200 Mi-8/17 in service and ALL need to be replaced ASAP so this will be taken care of by the V5. I expect many more orders in the future (for the IAF and others like CAPFs), it is a shame the IAF couldn't get something more modern but the V5 is an acceptable compromise.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

The V5 features many improvements to earlier variants (many are minor design tweaks), the most notable and important are improved avionics (a full, NVG compatible, glass cockpit).



An expected move- the IAF has around 200 Mi-8/17 in service and ALL need to be replaced ASAP so this will be taken care of by the V5. I expect many more orders in the future (for the IAF and others like CAPFs), it is a shame the IAF couldn't get something more modern but the V5 is an acceptable compromise.

The V5 is quite modern helicopter

Its best use will be in vertical envelopment ie Inserting troops behind enemy lines

 

[Abingdonboy]

The V5 is quite modern helicopter

Its best use will be in vertical envelopment ie Inserting troops behind enemy lines

Indeed, it is relatively modern but being Russian/Non-NATO and that too a decades old design (at its core) there will be certain intrinsic safety and employment shortcomings. The Indian military has adopted NATO standards across the board because of the higher levels of safety and utility they are known to bring.


+ I'm not too sure about how useful any helicopter (barring the V-22) is in insertion of troops behind enemy lines. These V5s will be used by the IAF just like all its helos are used- mobility, logistics, communication etc

 

[Stephen Cohen]

+ I'm not too sure about how useful any helicopter (barring the V-22) is in insertion of troops behind enemy lines. These V5s will be used by the IAF just like all its helos are used- mobility, logistics, communication etc

Source Preparing for a two-front war | Business Standard News

There is also a growing requirement for helicopters to airlift troops on "vertical envelopment" missions to capture heights in the enemy's rear and flanks. India is negotiating to buy 15 CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters, an order that could well be expanded.

The tried and tested Russian Mi-17 V5 helicopter that the IAF has already ordered in large numbers could potentially see additional demand.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Source Preparing for a two-front war | Business Standard News

There is also a growing requirement for helicopters to airlift troops on "vertical envelopment" missions to capture heights in the enemy's rear and flanks. India is negotiating to buy 15 CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters, an order that could well be expanded.

The tried and tested Russian Mi-17 V5 helicopter that the IAF has already ordered in large numbers could potentially see additional demand.

I understand the theory and this may be useful in a limited number of cases under very specific conditions but I would hesitate to include that mission in the primary roles/duties these helos are being procured to fulfil.


+ As for the Chinooks, the IAF is going to get FAR more than 15 that is a certainty, I've heard figures of around 45-50, of course procured/delivered in batches. Hopefully we will get a signature on 3 major helo deals in the next few weeks (S-70B, Ch-47F and AH-64E) all are desperately needed and have been stalled for years (the NMRH especially so).

 

[Stephen Cohen]

I understand the theory and this may be useful in a limited number of cases under very specific conditions but I would hesitate to include that mission in the primary roles/duties these helos are being procured to fulfil.


+ As for the Chinooks, the IAF is going to get FAR more than 15 that is a certainty, I've heard figures of around 45-50, of course procured/delivered in batches. Hopefully we will get a signature on 3 major helo deals in the next few weeks (S-70B, Ch-47F and AH-64E) all are desperately needed and have been stalled for years (the NMRH especially so).

Have you heard anything about Rafale

Rafale is driving us crazy

 

[Abingdonboy]

Have you heard anything about Rafale

Rafale is driving us crazy

I'm expecting major news in late July/Early August.


+It should be worth the wait if what I'm hearing is true

 

[Stephen Cohen]

@Abingdonboy

ALL these sweets for you

sweets images - Google Search

 

[Abingdonboy]

@Abingdonboy

ALL these sweets for you

sweets images - Google Search

Haha, let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet my friend- nothing is certain, especially not with this new GoI/PM, but things are certainly looking good