The recent crash of an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17V-5 helicopter resulting in the death of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat and 12 others, with a sole seriously injured survivor, has cast a spotlight on the safety record of the Russian built helicopter.
The twin-engine Mi-17V-5 was inducted into IAF service in November 2011, and the last of 151 helicopters on order was delivered in 2016. According to various sources, approximately five units have been converted for VVIP transport.
According to publicly available information, six Mi-17V-5 helicopters have been lost in accidents. However, considering the size of the fleet and over a decade of extensive operations over rugged terrain and in high-altitude areas, this fleet is considered to have a good safety record.
Some of the accidents involving the type include the unfortunate downing by the IAF’s air defence systems in February 2019, when the helicopter was shot down over Srinagar airfield in a case of fratricide, resulting in the loss of all six personnel. A Mi-17V-5 had crashed during landing near Kedarnath in April 2018, while another was lost during a rescue mission in 2013.
Workhorse Helicopter
The IAF’s fleet of Russian twin-engine helicopters comprises three variants – Mi-17, Mi-17 1V and Mi-17V-5. All are extensively used nationwide and, in addition to their transportation role, are used to drop paratroopers, undertake Search & Rescue and medical evacuation missions, and firefighting.
The Mi-17V-5 is the most advanced variant of the Mi-17 family operated by the IAF and is fitted with a full glass cockpit (a term used when digital displays are used to display information instead of mechanical gauges), advanced avionics, weather radar and powerful Klimov VK2500 engines delivering 2,700 hp each. The Mi-17V-5 can also be flown at night as its cockpit is Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible. The helicopter is capable of single-engine flight and landing. It can achieve a top speed of 250 kmph and a cruise speed of 220-230 kmph. The range on internal fuel is quoted as 675 km.
Mi-17V-5s can also undertake armed missions for which they can be fitted with four pylons to carry suspended pods with 23mm cannons and 250 rounds each, up to 80 S-8 80mm unguided aerial rockets and bombs and light arms can also be fired from inside the cabin if needed. Armour protection is also available to protect the pilots from small arms fire. In addition, it can carry up to 36 paratroopers in its cabin.
Russian Partnership
India is the largest operator of Russian built helicopters in South Asia, with over 400 helicopters (military and civil) operating in India. The IAF received 151 Mi-17V-5 medium-lift rotorcraft as part of two orders placed in 2008 and 2012 for 80 and 71 helicopters. The Ministry of Defence had also cleared the purchase of 48 additional Mi-17V-5 helicopters worth an estimated $ 1.1 billion, though a formal contract has yet to be signed.
At one point in time, helicopters from the famed Mil design bureau made up more than 60 % of the IAF’s rotorcraft inventory, distributed across five different types - medium (Mi-4, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-17 1V, Mi-17 V5,) heavy airlift (Mi-26) and attack (Mi-24 and Mi-35). The IAF’s Mi-8 fleet was retired in December 2017 after 36 years of service.
In addition to 154 Mi-17V-5 helicopters (three additional deliveries were made for the IAF, Home Ministry, and Secretariat of the President), Russian Helicopters, which manufactures Mil helicopters, has delivered 110 Mi-4, 128 Mi-8 and about 160 Mi-17 helicopters.
When first inducted into service in 1972, the Mi-8 was a quantum leap ahead of the piston-powered Mi-4 helicopters then operational with the IAF. Between 1971 and 1990, 107 Mi-8 helicopters were inducted into the IAF; the much-improved Mi-17 helicopters were inducted starting 1994, with an estimated 100 helicopters procured between 1984 and 1989.
The Mi-8/17 family of helicopters are the most successful helicopters in aviation history, with more than 12,000 produced. Russian Helicopters currently manufacture the Mi-17V-5 (domestic designation Mi-8MTV-5) at its Kazan Helicopters factory, while the Mi-171Sh (Mi-8AMTSh) is made at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant.